The revelation confirms a longstanding rumor surrounding Affleck's vision for the Dark Knight. According to Manganiello, whose character Slade Wilson, also known as Deathstroke, was slated as the primary antagonist, the narrative would have centered on Deathstroke's vengeful mission to dismantle Bruce Wayne's life. This deeply personal vendetta was reportedly inspired by David Fincher's psychological thriller 'The Game,' promising a gritty, intense take on Batman's world.
The groundwork for this intricate plot was laid in the post-credits scene of 'Justice League' (and further elaborated in 'Zack Snyder's Justice League'), where Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) would have provided Deathstroke with Batman's secret identity. Armed with this knowledge, Slade Wilson's campaign of terror would have culminated in the murder of Commissioner Jim Gordon, portrayed by J.K. Simmons.
Gordon's death would have served as a significant catalyst, particularly for Barbara Gordon, who was also set to appear as Batgirl in the film. Her character arc would have been profoundly shaped by seeking justice and revenge for her father's murder. Manganiello detailed a mid-movie showdown where Deathstroke would nearly overpower both Batman and Batgirl before they narrowly escaped aboard an elevated train, highlighting the sheer threat the villain posed.
The idea of killing off a character as integral as Jim Gordon carries immense dramatic weight within the Batman lore. Gordon, often depicted as Batman's most trusted ally and a symbol of integrity in Gotham, has been a cornerstone of the comics, notably in Frank Miller's 'Batman: Year One' and Christopher Nolan's 'The Dark Knight' trilogy. His demise would undoubtedly have pushed Batman into a darker, more desperate place.
Interestingly, a similar storyline is currently unfolding in Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's 'Absolute Batman' comic series, where Jim Gordon also falls to his death, leading his daughter Barbara to adopt the mantle of 'the Bat.' Snyder, a known admirer of Frank Miller's work, explained his decision to kill the character in 'Absolute Batman' on the 'ComicPop Returns' podcast:
"As much as I am dying to do the rooftop scenes with [Batman] and Jim, it's not that universe, and so it just felt like I don't have a role for Jim that makes more sense than really giving him his biggest moments now and then showing how devastating his loss is."
This sentiment likely echoed the creative motivations behind Affleck's scrapped film. The death of a beloved, foundational character like Gordon would have aimed to maximize emotional impact, leveraging audience connections to previous iterations of the character, such as Gary Oldman's portrayal in 'The Dark Knight' films. While Affleck's 'The Batman' ultimately never saw the light of day, these newly revealed details offer a fascinating glimpse into a potentially groundbreaking, albeit grim, chapter for the Caped Crusader.