DC Studios’ Next Big Villain Movie? ‘Deathstroke & Bane’ Reportedly Moves Up the Priority List

DC Studios appears to be moving forward with one of its darkest and most violent projects yet. A movie centered on two of DC Comics’ most dangerous villains, Bane and Deathstroke, is reportedly becoming a bigger priority for the studio as the new DC Universe continues to take shape.

The idea of bringing Bane and Deathstroke together was first revealed in 2024, when DC announced that a team-up movie featuring the two characters was in development. The project immediately caught the attention of fans because both villains are known for their brutal fighting styles, intelligence, and history as major threats to heroes like Batman.

The screenplay is being written by Matthew Orton, who previously worked on Captain America: Brave New World. At the moment, no director or actors have officially joined the project, and DC Studios has not announced a release date.

According to reports, the film is still in the early stages of development, but the studio has started looking at possible directors. By May 2026, several filmmakers were reportedly being considered, with Greg Mottola emerging as one of the names connected to the project.

If Mottola ends up taking the job, reports suggest Orton would rewrite the script based on the director’s ideas. However, the screenplay has not yet been completed, meaning the movie is still far away from entering production.

The project is expected to be filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden if it moves forward. The studio has used the location for many major productions in the past, making it a possible home for DC’s latest villain-focused story.

The idea of a Deathstroke movie has been around for years. Under the previous DC leadership, the studio attempted to develop a project featuring the character with Joe Manganiello attached. Manganiello briefly appeared as Deathstroke in a post-credits scene from Justice League, teasing a possible future storyline. However, that version of the project never moved forward.

Now, with DC Studios being led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, the franchise is taking a different approach. Instead of focusing only on traditional heroes, the studio appears interested in exploring stories centered around darker characters.

Bane and Deathstroke are two villains who could bring a different style to the DC Universe. Bane is best known as the man who physically broke Batman in the famous “Knightfall” storyline, while Deathstroke is a highly skilled assassin and one of the most dangerous fighters in the DC world.

The movie could give audiences a chance to see two villains working together rather than simply fighting against superheroes. Their personalities also create an interesting dynamic, with both characters being highly intelligent, strategic, and extremely dangerous.

While many details remain unknown, the reported push behind the project suggests that DC Studios sees potential in a villain team-up movie. If it reaches production, Bane and Deathstroke could become two of the first major antagonists to lead their own story in the new DC Universe.

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