Greg Mottola Frontrunner for Deathstroke-Bane DC Film

Greg Mottola, known for directing the comedy hit Superbad and episodes of HBO's Peacemaker, has emerged as the frontrunner to helm an untitled DC Universe film featuring villains Deathstroke and Bane, according to a Deadline report.

The project, first reported in September 2024, remains in early development at DC Studios under co-chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran. Writer Matthew Orton, whose credits include Marvel's Moon Knight and Captain America: Brave New World, penned an initial screenplay submitted last July. However, Deadline noted that no script has been finalized and no contracts have been issued, with other directors still under consideration.

Mottola's recent work on two episodes of Peacemaker's second season appears to have positioned him favorably within the DC Studios fold. His filmography leans toward comedy, including Adventureland, Paul and Confess, Fletch, though the tone of a Deathstroke-Bane pairing remains unclear. The characters, both staples of Batman lore, have appeared in live-action before: Tom Hardy portrayed Bane as the antagonist in Christopher Nolan's 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises, while Joe Manganiello played Deathstroke in cameos in Joss...