DC Studios’ planned Deathstroke and Bane movie has reportedly received a working title, offering a new sign that James Gunn and Peter Safran are continuing to develop projects centered on Batman’s most recognizable adversaries, even as the DC Universe’s own Batman movie remains in development.
According to an October 8 report from Deadline, the project is currently operating under the title Savage Hunters. The film appeared among several Warner Bros. and DC Studios projects identified as being in development following the completion of the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.
While the title provides an update on the long-gestating project, Savage Hunters has not received an official production greenlight, and DC Studios has not confirmed that the name will be used for the eventual theatrical release.
Nevertheless, its continued presence on the studio’s development slate suggests that Gunn and Safran remain interested in bringing the two formidable DC Comics villains together on the big screen.
Deathstroke and Bane Team Up in Savage Hunters
The Deathstroke and Bane movie was originally reported in September 2024, with Matthew Orton, who worked on Marvel Studios’ Captain America: Brave New World, attached to write the screenplay.
Deathstroke, also known as Slade Wilson, is a highly trained mercenary and assassin who has frequently crossed paths with Batman, the Teen Titans, and other DC superheroes. The character previously appeared in live action briefly in Justice League, portrayed by Joe Manganiello.
Bane breaks Batman in Detective Comics #664 (1993), DC
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Bane, meanwhile, is one of Batman’s most physically imposing adversaries. Introduced in 1993, the character became famous for the Knightfall storyline, in which he systematically exhausted Batman before breaking his back.
Movie audiences will likely remember Tom Hardy’s portrayal of Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, although the character also appeared in 1997’s Batman & Robin.
Despite their individual popularity, Deathstroke and Bane are not traditionally portrayed as an established villainous partnership, making their pairing an interesting creative decision.
DC Studios has not announced casting for either character, and details regarding the film’s storyline remain undisclosed.
Another Batman Villain Movie Before Batman Arrives
The continued development of Savage Hunters also highlights an unusual aspect of Gunn’s DC Universe.
DC Studios is preparing to release Clayface, another film centered on a Batman villain, on October 23, 2026. Directed by James Watkins, the movie explores the origins of the shapeshifting Gotham City antagonist.
Image from the Clayface trailer – Warner Bros., YouTube
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Meanwhile, The Brave and the Bold, the film intended to introduce Batman into Gunn’s shared DCU, remains without a confirmed release date, production start, or announced leading actor.
Originally announced in January 2023, The Brave and the Bold is expected to feature Bruce Wayne alongside his son Damian Wayne, who assumes the role of Robin.
Although Gunn has disputed reports suggesting the project has been placed on hold, it remains in early development more than three years after its initial announcement.
That creates an interesting situation in which DC Studios is developing multiple films featuring characters closely associated with Batman without having established its own version of the Dark Knight.
The strategy also invites comparisons to Sony Pictures’ attempts to build a cinematic universe around Spider-Man villains, including Venom, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter.
A screenshot from Venom: The Last Dance (2024), Sony Pictures
Of course, there is no guarantee that the project will arrive before The Brave and the Bold.
Still, with Clayface approaching release and Deathstroke and Bane potentially following, Gunn and Safran appear increasingly interested in exploring Gotham’s villains independently of its most famous protector.
Whether Savage Hunters ultimately moves into production remains to be seen. For now, the newly reported working title offers another indication of DC Studios’ ambitions to expand its Batman-related properties.
The larger question is whether audiences will meet the DCU’s Batman before they meet even more of his enemies.
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