Joe Manganiello Says The Batman Starts Filming in 2017

If you want to hear some updates about Ben Affleck's Batman movie, then you better tune into coverage on the Pittsburgh Stealers. Apparently, that is where Joe Manganiello is taking time to talk about the highly anticipated project. The actor just appeared on The Rich Eisen Show to talk about the football team, but he also took a moment to address his upcoming role as Deathstroke. And, in doing so, he also reiterated when production would kick off on Affleck's flick.

When Manganiello was asked whether the film had already wrapped, the actor had this to say: "Uh, no. We will start at some point this year, it looks like."

For some, the wording might be a bit confusing; After all, there is only one month left of 2016. However, it is much more likely that Manganiello was referring to 2017 since this year is nearly at its end. In the past, Manganiello said plans were shaping up for Affleck's Batman to undergo shooting in Spring 2017, so it appears like the film is still on track.

When Manganiello was asked to spill a few details about the superhero flick, the actor said he was not able to say much but that he "can speak cryptically about it."

"It's about Gotham," he joked after being asked to describe the film's plot, "and there's this guy that dresses like a bat."

However, the actor did sober up when it came to discussing Deathstroke. The actor gave a short description of his character who the hosts correctly called a badass. "I play a one-eyed - like, the world's deadliest assassin who also has one eye."

This is not the only time Manganiello has shared details about Affleck's Batman. The actor appeared on a podcast with Pittsburgh's Mark Madden and said the movie would surprise the audience.

Talking about Affleck's take, the actor had this to say. "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."

Manganiello continued, saying, "It's going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman...everything is lined up for a really really really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie."

NEXT: Everything We know about The Batman / Script Problems? / 5 Things We Want to See in The Batman / Deathstroke and Female Robin Concept Art

Suicide Squad is now playing in theaters. Wonder Woman opens in theaters on June 2, 2017, followed by Justice League on November 17, 2017; Aquaman on July 27, 2018; Shazam on April 5, 2019; Justice League 2 on June 14, 2019; Cyborg on April 3, 2020; and Green Lantern Corps on July 24, 2020. The Flash, The Batman, Dark Universe and Man of Steel 2 are currently without release dates.

[H/T] Batman-News