The perfect casting choice for Deathstroke in the rebooted DC Universe may have been found in the line-up of rumored actors to be in the running to play Hal Jordans' Green Lantern in the upcoming Lanterns series. Speculation has been rife in recent weeks that DC Studios may be close to casting Hal Jordan in the DCU, with several high profile stars, such as Josh Brolin, Matthew McConaughey and Ewan McGregor, supposedly being in the running. Any number of these actors would be great as the Green Lantern, but one would make a much better Deathstroke.
One of the actors rumored to be in the running to be Hal Jordan's Green Lantern is Timothy Olyphant. Best known for his roles in Scream 2, Deadwood, Justified and, more recently, The Mandalorian, Timothy Olyphant would be a huge get for DC Studios, and he would certainly be great in the role of an older Green Lantern, as Hal Jordan is expected to act as a mentor figure to the younger John Stewart. However, Olyphant's specific qualities far better match the character of Slade Wilson's Deathstroke, who could debut in the DCU very soon.
Timothy Olyphant Is Better Matched To Slade Wilson Than Hal Jordan
While it makes sense for Hal Jordan to be a mentor to John Stewart in the DCU's Lanterns series, the Green Lantern is usually depicted as being slightly younger than Timothy Olyphant's 56 years. However, Slade Wilson, on the other hand, is in his 50s, better matching Olyphant's own age. As pointed out by GoodNightDrew, Olyphant bears a striking resemblance to Deathstroke from DC Comics, drawing stronger comparisons to Slade Wilson than Hal Jordan. Aside from his physical appearance, Olyphant has all the talent needed to play Deathstroke.
Why Timothy Olyphant Would Make A Perfect Deathstroke In The DCU
Timothy Olyphant has pretty much done it all. He has starred in action movies, horror films, dramas, comedies and westerns, which means he has the incredible range necessary to accurately and faithfully pull off a character as complex as DC Comics' Deathstroke. Slade Wilson has never been depicted properly in live-action, but Timothy Olyphant's rough-around-the-edges but comforting nature would be perfect for the villain. At his core, Slade Wilson is a father on a mission of vengeance, and Olyphant would excel at delivering this thoughtfulness, but also brutality.
Throughout his acting career, Timothy Olyphant has regularly been cast in the role of the dashing villain, which fits Slade Wilson's Deathstroke perfectly. Olyphant also has a huge amount of experience in action-heavy, high-octane projects, so a role in a superhero franchise makes sense for the actor. He has also previously expressed his interest in joining a superhero franchise, even going so far as to audition for the role of Tony Stark in Marvel Studios' Iron Man, but the villainous and complicated Deathstroke could be the perfect role for the seasoned star.
Slade Wilson Could Debut In The DCU’s Teen Titans Movie
Despite being in his 50s, Slade Wilson is the archenemy to the young superhero team, the Teen Titans, in DC Comics. His vendetta against the Teen Titans began when his son, Grant Wilson, was killed on a contract mission to take out the group, and he has persisted as the nemesis of Dick Grayson for several decades. This means that the perfect opportunity for Slade Wilson's debut in the live-action DC Universe has already been confirmed, as a Teen Titans movie is in development for the rebooted franchise.
Back in May, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed that there are plans for Deathstroke to have a role in the DCU. Ana Noguiera, who is penning the script for the DCU's Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, is set to also write the Teen Titans movie, and it seems likely that Slade Wilson will appear in the movie. It would be fantastic to see Timothy Olyphant cast in this role, debuting opposite a new superhero team as an iconic villain who could persist as a threat for several years to come.
