Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie

Last updated
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie
Deathstroke-1.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed bySung Jin Ahn
Written by J. M. DeMatteis
Based on Deathstroke
by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Produced by
Starring
Music by Kevin Riepl
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release date
  • August 4, 2020 (2020-08-04) [1]
Running time
87 minutes [2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie is an American direct-to-video adult animated superhero film based on the CW Seed series Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons , produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. [3] It was released digitally on August 4, 2020 and on Blu-ray on August 18. [4]

Contents

Plot

Following an accident, Slade Wilson is saved by an experimental drug from which he develops super strength, enhanced agility, and regeneration. He decides to use these new abilities to become the mercenary "Deathstroke" with the help of his friend William Wintergreen. Slade then marries general Adeline "Addie" Kane. Together, they have a son named Joseph. While on a mission in Cambodia, Deathstroke meets Lillian, a woman who he falls in love with. Unbeknownst to Slade, after he completes his mission and leaves, Lillian gives birth to Rose, a girl who becomes orphaned after her mother dies in a hit and run. Rose lives alone until she is rescued by Jackal, the mysterious leader of a secret organization known as H.I.V.E. He trains her to one day become his successor. Jackal later kidnaps Joseph. Slade returns home from a mission abroad and finds Addie, angered after discovering about his secret life as an assassin. Slade promises to bring back Joseph and hunts down Jackal at his base of operations. There, Deathstroke is confronted by Jackal's agents Bronze Tiger and an unnamed woman. In the ensuing fight, Slade kills the woman, cuts Tiger's arm off and heads to kill Jackal. Just before Slade can rescue Joseph, his throat is sliced, making him mute. After Joseph becomes hospitalized, Addie breaks up with Slade. She then isolates Joseph at a private school to hide him from Slade.

Ten years later, Slade continues operating as Deathstroke. One night, he is contacted by the H.I.V.E. Queen - H.I.V.E.'s new leader - who has Joseph hostage for his psychic abilities, which he inherited from Slade. This reunites him with Adeline, who wants to join Slade in the rescue mission but he is reluctant. Before Slade leaves, Adeline shares a kiss with him. Slade's hunt for the Queen leads him to Colonel Kapoor, a former agent of H.I.V.E. Kapoor's intel takes Slade to Kaznia where he confronts Tiger, now a freelancer. In the ensuing battle, Tiger reveals that Jackal is alive and the Queen is located at the Kerguelen Islands. Wintergreen takes Slade there. Upon his arrival, he is attacked by Sandra Woosan / Lady Shiva. Slade surrenders and is taken to the Queen. The Queen reveals she had trained Joseph to use his abilities as a weapon known as "Jericho". Slade rescues Joseph, who reveals he has joined H.I.V.E. as Jericho. The Queen is actually Slade's daughter Rose; Joseph's sister. Slade is shot into the ocean, but, using his regeneration powers, he refuses to die. Addie fishes him out, revealing she had placed a tracking device through the kiss they shared earlier. Slade reveals his affair with Lillian to Addie. Rose informs Jackal about Slade's supposed death, pleasing him. During training, Jericho's powers become out of control, but Rose stops him. Slade, Addie, and Wintergreen discover H.I.V.E.'s plan to use Jericho's abilities to control the world.

Jackal conducts a series of coordinated attacks across the United States to lure the president out. While boarding a H.I.V.E plane, Rose and Jericho betray Jackal, realizing he had manipulated them into becoming rogue. In the ensuing fight, they discover Jackal's suit is designed to repel Joseph's psychic attacks. Slade and Addie then board the plane and confront Jackal and Shiva. Shiva holds Rose and Jericho hostage. Slade heads to fight Jackal while Addie fights Shiva, who Rose manages to kill. During this fight, it is revealed that the woman who Slade killed while rescuing Joseph years ago was Jackal's daughter. That is why he took Slade's children under his wing. Jackal shoots at Slade with his armor's powers, but Slade redirects the blast, leaving an opening in the plane. Slade and Jackal fall out of it. While falling, Slade places a bomb on Jackal, killing them both.

Back home, Jericho starts to reminisce about his father, while Addie officially welcomes Rose into the Wilson family. At a beach elsewhere, Slade's body is washed up and appears to still be alive.

Cast

Production

The film was originally announced as a 12-part series in April 2019, written by J.M. DeMatteis and directed by Sung Jin Ahn. The voice cast was also revealed. [6] The first episode aired on CW Seed on January 6, 2020, but subsequent episodes never appeared.

The film version of the story was released on August 4 the same year, on Blu-ray and digital platforms with the same voice cast from the series.

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 5.9/10. [7]

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons earned $4,012,097 from domestic Blu-ray sales. [8]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jericho (DC Comics)</span> Fictional comics character

Jericho is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was originally a superhero, the son of Deathstroke, and a member of the Teen Titans during The New Teen Titans period by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. Since the early 1990s, Jericho has gone through periods of both sanity and insanity.

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The H.I.V.E., which stands for the Hierarchy of International Vengeance and Extermination, is a fictional terrorist organization appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

William Randolph Wintergreen is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, often depicted as an associate of Slade Wilson. Although Wintergreen lacked Slade's superhuman physical attributes, he possessed far more combat experience and thus acted as Wilson's mentor.

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Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons is an American animated web series that premiered on January 6, 2020. Originally planned to air as a 12-episode web-series on CW Seed, these plans were canceled after the first episode appearing on CW Seed. The first episode that premiered and the 11 subsequent episodes planned to debut as a web series were later re-purposed into a direct-to-video animated film, Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie, released digitally on August 4 and on Blu-ray on August 18. A second episode was eventually released 10 months later on November 24. While existing as a direct-to-video DC animated film, like Batman Ninja it is considered a stand-alone entry that is not part of the DC Original Animated Universe series of films.

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The Lazarus Contract is a Deathstroke/ Teen Titans crossover event featuring Deathstroke and the Flash in the DC Comics. The story revolves around Deathstroke trying to steal the Flashes' powers to travel back in time to save his son. The crossover received generally positive reviews for the plot and artstyle, but the ending received some criticism.

The Terminus Agenda is a Deathstroke/Teen Titans crossover event featuring Deathstroke in the DC Comics. The story revolves around Deathstroke trying to mentally break Damian Wayne and sow distrust in the team. The crossover received positive reviews for the plot and art style, but the epilogue received criticism.

References

  1. ↑ DEATHSTROKE: KNIGHTS & DRAGONS – THE MOVIE COMES TO HOMES IN AUGUST | Graphic Policy
  2. ↑ Trailer: 'Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons' Strikes Home Vid in August | Animation Magazine
  3. ↑ Deathstroke Animated Movie Unloads First Full Trailer | CBR
  4. ↑ Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons Blu-ray
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 DC animated movie Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons announced with trailer and cover art
  6. ↑ Burlingame, Russ (April 10, 2019). "First Look at CW Seed's Michael Chiklis-Led Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons". Comicbook.com. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  8. ↑ "Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons (2020) The Numbers Listing". The Numbers . Retrieved August 19, 2022.
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