By James White | Posted 25 Oct 2017

Given his work on The Raid and its sequel, Gareth Evans is a director that lots of people have wanted to see make a superhero film. They may well get their wish, as he's in early discussions to write and direct a film featuring the DC assassin Deathstroke, according to The Wrap.

Joe Manganiello, who was hired to play the man when he was still the villain in The Batman (there has been no word on what Matt Reeves will do with the character since taking over directing), is on board to star in this spin-off. Zack Snyder has previously hinted that he'll be introduced in Justice League.

In case you need a refresher on Deathstroke, he was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez and first appeared in Teen Titans #2 in 1980. Slade Wilson (as his family knows him) is an assassin and a mercenary, and while he's more often found in the Green Arrow's rogue's gallery – and has turned up on the DC TV series – he has crossed Batman's path several times. Their memorable first meeting was in a 1991 Deathstroke comic story arc titled City Of Assassins, where he beat the Dark Knight to a pulp.

Evans was reportedly brought in as a potential director for the long-gestating Justice League Dark film, but apparently impressed DC and Warner Bros. with an idea for Deathstroke, and now looks set to enter the DCEU.

The next film from the Warner Bros./DC universe will be the aforementioned Justice League, out here on 17 November. And for those needing more of Evans' work, his next film Apostle is arriving via Netflix, but has yet to announce a release date.

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