MOVIE NEWS – It looks like DC Studios is fully embracing its villainous side with the upcoming release of *Joker: Folie à Deux* in theaters and *The Penguin* series on HBO. Now, James Gunn and Peter Safran’s next big move might involve pairing two of DC’s most iconic bad guys in a brand-new movie. Gunn is currently deep into building his new DCU, which already boasts a diverse lineup of projects, including the animated series *Creature Commandos* coming later this year, and both *Superman* and *Peacemaker* Season 2 slated for release in 2025. These will be followed by *Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow* and *Lanterns* in 2026. And now, it looks like another project is entering development, shining the spotlight on two legendary DC villains.

Bane is Batman’s ultimate nemesis, but he’s been unfairly portrayed in past media. Here’s a look at how DCU can finally do him justice.

According to *The Hollywood Reporter*, DC Studios and Warner Bros. are developing a film centered on Bane and Deathstroke. Both of these villains are closely tied to Batman, although Deathstroke is also a notorious adversary for Green Arrow and the Teen Titans. Matthew Orton, the screenwriter behind Marvel Studios’ upcoming *Captain America: Brave New World*, is working on the script, and the film is being developed under the leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran for DC Studios. However, it’s still unclear where this project will fit within the studio’s broader roadmap.

Bane and Deathstroke’s History on the Big Screen

Bane and Deathstroke are iconic DC villains, each with a long history in the comics. Bane first appeared in 1993, created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Graham Nolan. He’s best known for breaking Batman’s back in the classic “Knightfall” storyline, a moment that was adapted in Christopher Nolan’s *The Dark Knight Rises*, with Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Bane becoming a defining take on the character. Deathstroke, also known as Slade Wilson, made his debut in *The New Teen Titans* #2 in 1980, created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez. While originally a Teen Titans and Green Arrow villain, Deathstroke has increasingly been positioned as a major foe for Batman in more recent years, appearing in the *Batman: Arkham Origins* video game and in the DC Extended Universe portrayed by Joe Manganiello.

This new film could tie into Gunn’s plans for *Brave and the Bold*, which features Batman training his son Damian Wayne to become the next Robin. Damian’s mother, Talia Al Ghul, is the daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins, and both Bane and Deathstroke have ties to the group in the comics. There’s also a Teen Titans film in the works where Deathstroke could make an appearance.

Regardless of how this new movie fits into the broader DCU, DC Studios is banking on this villain-focused film being more *Joker* than *Morbius*.

Source: MovieWeb