DC and Warner Brothers are trying to rapidly create their own Cinematic Universe, but some of their popular hero's backstories are missing. This was very apparent in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice as the painful backstory of Batman (the shooting of the Wayne family) was depicted, but certain elements are left out. One of them is Wayne Manor being burned down, and the possibility of Robin. However, there is supposed to be a solo Batman film that may or may not explain these plot elements. This is what is known about the solo Batman film with Ben Affleck slated to direct, and there is a release date and possibility of a new villain.
According to CBC News, Ben Affleck tweeted something of a hint as far as what the Batman solo film will be about. Actually, there isn't much of the tweet but a video, but it shows Deathstroke. It looks to be video footage that could be from CW's Arrow show, where Deathstroke is a prominent villain.
Most fans know that the DC CW Universe (shows like Arrow and The Flash) is different from the Cinematic DC universe, but Deathstroke is a well-known villain from the comics. Ironically, Deathstroke is not a Batman villain, but more a villain of Robin.
Back in the 1980's, Robin started a team of The New Teen Titans, and this was not the first time this group of teenage sidekicks was formed. This time, Robin eventually left partnering with Batman so he could focus on this team. In the second issue of The Teen Titans was the introduction to one of the Teen Titans greatest foes, and he was...The Terminator.
Yes, he was called that back in the early eighties, but he was eventually renamed to Deathstroke because there was an Arnold Schwarzenegger film that was released. Deathstroke/Terminator eventually became one of the DC Universe's greatest villains, and he is often seen as an antihero. There was even a time where Deathstroke took on the Justice League in the popular Identity Crisis storyline single-handedly and held his own pretty well.
So, how does Deathstroke figure in to the solo Batman movie? Well, we know that Batman has the costume of Robin in the batcave, and there is no explanation. However, comic book fans know that this is a nod to the popular Batman: A Death in the Family storyline where the Joker kills Robin. This was Jason Todd, who took over as Robin after the original Robin, Dick Grayson, left Batman's side to focus on The New Teen Titans.
So is the Batman solo film going to focus on the Death of Robin? At this point, we have seen Batman's origin told many times, it almost seems moot to tell it again. The Death in the Family storyline feels like a way to go, especially when Joker has been introduced in Suicide Squad. Deathstroke doesn't fit in with that classic story, so who knows how this will play out.
By the way, Suicide Squad has a sequel planned, even though the first film received serious mixed reviews. Batman V. Superman also received mixed reviews, but it has apparently received $850 million worldwide.
So, when will this new Batman solo film have its release date? That isn't really known, and it might show up after the Justice League movie, and it does depend on how much the other DC Cinematic Universe films do. However, solo Batman films usually do very well, and Affleck is competent enough as an actor and director to do a very good Batman.
