Joe Manganiello is a total Batfleck fanboy, and he can't wait to start shooting his role as the villain of Ben Affleck's solo film, "The Batman."

Joe Manganiello will play Deathstroke in the DC movie, which starts shooting next year. The "True Blood" alum talked about his relationship to the DCEU in a podcast with Mark Madden, transcribed via Reddit. Manganiello said he couldn't play Superman in "Man of Steel" because of his "True Blood" contract, but he created a relationship with the director and studio. Once the HBO series was over, they came back to talk to him, and now he'll be the villain in "The Batman," which features Affleck as star, screenwriter, and director.Here's more of Manganiello's Batman conversation with Madden:

Mark Madden: "I gotta tell ya. I can't wait for the Affleck thing. Because Affleck's so interesting. How well do you know him? I mean like, I love the way he puts a different spin on stuff like- for example this Batman movie. I'm sure it will be different from any one ever done."

Joe Manganiello: "It is. That's true. When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role. We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it's a road that no one's really gone down that's completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it's gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it's going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about.

It's going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman. Ben's a great director, man. I mean the last movie that man directed won best picture. He's got an Oscar for writing. Like, this is all the components to go down as a... everything is lined up for a really really really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie. Which is why, you know, I told him in the room man, when I met him. 'I should be so lucky, I'd be in great hands to work with you, I love your movies, let's do this.'"

That's good to hear, and hopefully it's not just PR spin from a guy who booked a role in the movie. Affleck does have a decent track record as a director, and an Oscar for co-writing "Good Will Hunting." And his Bruce Wayne/Batman in "Batman v Superman" got a solid reaction from fans. So we'll stay cautiously optimistic until the movie actually comes out ... whenever that will be.

[via: ComicBookMovie]

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