EXCLUSIVE: We are hearing that Greg Mottola, who is already in the DC Studios family having helmed episodes of Peacemaker, is a front-runner to potentially direct the untitled Deathstroke and Bane feature. There are others in the mix.

Triple note that it’s still very early days on this project. A script hasn’t come in yet, and no contracts have been papered yet as the project remains in development.

Word of a Deathstroke and Bane movie began in September 2024 under the James Gunn- and Peter Safran-led DC Studios. The initial screenplay reportedly was penned by Matthew Orton, who wrote for the Marvel Studios/Disney+ series Moon Knight.

The villain-combo movie would put the breathing-apparatus Batman baddie, Bane, back on screen for his first appearance since 2012’s Christopher Nolan-directed The Dark Knight Rises, then portrayed by Tom Hardy. The character was created by Chuck Dixon, Doug Moench and Graham Nolan and first appeared in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1 (January 1993).

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In the comics, Bane was born and raised in the Peña Duro prison on the Caribbean island of Santa Prisca. He’s the son of King Snake and was a test subject for a super-steroid known as “Venom.” After breaking out of prison, he ventures to Gotham and gets entangled with Batman, breaking the Dark Knight’s back, a moment known as “Breaking the Bat.”

Bad guy Deathstroke debuted as Deathstroke the Terminator in 1980’s The New Teen Titans #2 from scribe Marv Wolfman and artist George Perez. Aka Slade Joseph Wilson, Deathstroke is a former U.S. Army soldier and mercenary who is further boosted following a supersoldier serum. He’s battled Dick Grayson and the Teen Titans, Batman, Green Arrow and the Justice League. He’s had it out for the Titans since swearing revenge for his oldest son Grant. His other two kids, Joseph and Rose, would go on to oppose him by joining the Titans. Esai Morales has voiced Deathstroke in the Titans live-action series, with Joe Manganiello making cameos as the bad guy in the Zack Snyder’s DC titles.

Mottola is an EP and director on new Peacock series The Miniature Wife starring Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen. He’s directed such comedy movies as Adventureland, Superbad and The Daytrippers.

DC could not be reached for comment. Mottola is repped by UTA and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.