Joe Manganiello had a promising career in the DCEU when he starred as Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke in Justice League. When Zack Snyder’s empire crumbled, the actor’s career went down with it. It also didn’t help that James Gunn, his friend and the head of DC Studios, advised him against reprising the role.
Despite the sad news, there’s always a silver lining. When one door closes, another one opens, and it seems that opportunity is now. Manganiello is reportedly joining One Piece, one of the massive franchises in mainstream media.
Fans Demand Joe Manganiello To Play Crocodile in One Piece Season 2
Joe Manganiello hoped to star in a solo Deathstroke origin movie following his portrayal of the character in Justice League. The project did not get off the ground since Warner Bros. did not see it as a priority. The circumstances also did not provide the opportunity to discuss it thoroughly after DCEU was dismantled and replaced with a new era of heroes and villains under James Gunn’s legacy.
Along with the death of DCEU came the demise of Manganiello’s career as Deathstroke. However, Gunn previously teased the possibility of reviving the villain in DC Universe, but so far, no concrete plans have been announced. The actor also gave up on it as per his response via ComingSoon: “No, I let that go a while ago.”
Hearing this can be upsetting for fans of Manganiello and Deathstroke; however, a report from popular scooper MyTimeToShineHello claimed the actor has a new project that will see him play another epic character. He is reportedly cast in the second season of One Piece live-action series in an unknown role.
Fans are already suspecting he will play a major antagonist, and for quite some time, he has been linked with the character of Crocodile. Read these tweets below:
It looks like he would suit the character and he’s got enough experience in these types of roles. If many fans see him as Crocodile, then he’s most likely going to nail the part.
Joe Manganiello Moves Forward Without Deathstroke
One of the things that led to speculations about Manganiello joining One Piece was his recent Instagram followings. Eagle-eyed fans saw that he connected with the showrunner and followed One Piece-related accounts.
But, of course, until there is confirmation, netizens should take this rumor with a grain of salt. It’s good that there’s buzz around him getting a new project after he cut ties with Deathstroke.
It’s a shame that he wasn’t able to flesh out the character and dive deep into his story, but as Gunn keeps his options open, there might be a chance that Deathstroke will return, although it won’t necessarily be with Manganiello this time.
One Piece is currently available to watch on Netflix.
