Joe Manganiello shares photo of DC Comics villain Deathstroke

Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Joe Manganiello gave fans their first look on Instagram of himself in costume as DC Comics villain Deathstroke.

The image, posted without a caption Saturday, features the True Blood alum donning the character's signature blue and orange armor with a sword on his back.

Manganiello has Deathstroke's mask in hand, wears an eye patch on his right eye and has grey hair.

The photo is a still from an end-credits scene that was played following the ending of the recently released Justice League film that stars Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher).

Manganiello was first cast as the deadly assassin in September 2016 -- the main villain in Affleck's previously planned solo Batman film.

Manganiello's role in Affleck's project was left up in the air, however, after the actor and filmmaker stepped down from directing The Batman with Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes), now helming the Batman movie.

Warner Bros. began developing a Deathstroke solo film that would star Manganiello in October with filmmaker Gareth Evans (The Raid), in early talks to write and direct the project.

Deathstroke, aka Slade Wilson, also nicknamed The Terminator, was created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez in 1980. Known for taking on the Teen Titans and hunting down heroes for the right price, Deathstroke possesses incredible strength, reflexes, a brilliant tactical mind and the ability to regenerate.