Arrow fans have noticed more steadily that any and all Suicide Squad characters shared with the upcoming film have been “taken off the table” through various means, seemingly for good. Manu Bennett’s Deathstroke still draws breath, but may now be “tied up in another DC project” and equally unable to return, according to producer Marc Guggenheim.

You’re warned of full spoilers through the most recent Arrow outings from here on out, but the death of Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Amanda Waller followed a similarly abrupt exit from last season’s Deadshot, at the time noted to be “off the table” for future use. Curiously, last week’s “Unchained” spared Rila Fukushima’s Katana a similar exit, despite returning the character in an otherwise perfunctory role, though the outing leaves Katana as one of two (technically three, “Deranged Squad Female”) still capable of returning to Arrow.

So what then of Manu Bennett’s Slade “Deathstroke” Wilson, major fixture throughout the first two years, brief return in Season 3, and the actor without whom even Stephen Amell finds something “missing” from the show? Well, even with present-day Slade locked up in Lian Yu, Guggenheim says that Deathstroke has been earmarked for another DC property:

Deathstroke has long been rumored for a role in David Ayer’s Suicide Squad film, but for the moment at least, it remains unclear exactly which project Guggenheim is referring to. In any case, it’s of interest to note that Amell so vocally expressed his interest in returning Manu Bennett to Arrow, as DC seems to have quietly reneged the option:

Manu is a character, and Manu played a great character. And I really honestly think that Arrow has been missing something since he hasn’t been around, I really do. He was a transformative villain, and I would really love it if Deathstroke could keep being a part of the Arrow universe.

One wonders what other characters DC’s growing film slate might pull from TV availability, even as it remains no less odd that both Ezra Miller and Grant Gustin will hold the role of The Flash for years to come. In the meantime, does Arrow have plenty more characters to play with, or should Deathstroke be allowed to return at some point?

Check Out 100 TV Facts You May Not Know!

More From ComicsAlliance