You Will Never Guess the Director of the Next DCU Supervillain Movie

Image: Francesco Mattina/DC Comics

A recent report indicates that Superbad director Greg Mottola is being eyed to helm a feature film within James Gunn’s expanding DC Universe.

According to information from Deadline published on May 8, Mottola has emerged as the top choice to direct a project centering on iconic villains Deathstroke and Bane, with a script penned by Matthew Orton. While Mottola previously collaborated with the studio to direct two episodes of the second season of Peacemaker, this potential assignment is intriguing. Notably, development on The Brave and the Bold—the DCU’s core Batman film—remains quiet, and Mottola’s background is primarily rooted in comedy rather than the gritty, high-stakes action typically associated with these characters.

While Deathstroke and Bane are generally portrayed as formidable, somber threats in the comics, they have certainly seen lighter, more satirical interpretations in projects like Teen Titans Go! and the Harley Quinn animated series. Both have also made previous live-action appearances: Tom Hardy famously played Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, and Joe Manganiello took on the role of Deathstroke in various cuts of Justice League.

Whispers of a team-up movie featuring this villainous duo have persisted since 2024. Without a foundational Batman film in the new DCU to provide context, determining the tone of this project is purely speculative. However, drafting a director like Mottola hints that the studio might be aiming for a buddy-comedy dynamic, distinguishing it from other planned projects like the horror-leaning Clayface film.

Until James Gunn or the leadership at Warner Bros. provide official confirmation, these details remain speculative. Deadline notes that the screenplay is still in development, meaning the creative direction is subject to change. Nevertheless, it appears Mottola’s successful tenure on Peacemaker has positioned him as a key talent within the evolving DC slate.

As it stands, the upcoming DC Studios lineup for 2026 and 2027 includes Supergirl, Clayface, Man of Tomorrow, and The Batman Part 2.

Source: Polygon