If you're worried about Ben Affleck's Batman film because of the critical reception of Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, then Joe Manganiello (True Blood) has a few words to ease those fears.

　　The actor, who's cast as Deathstroke in the upcoming movie, appeared on the Mark Madden, Super Genius podcast and said the film is going in a unique direction and will make a lot of people "really happy" (via ComicBookMovie).

　　"When I met Ben, we sat down and we talked about the role. We talked about the movie," Manganiello said. "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 who Batman is.

　　"And I think it's gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. [I]t's going to take this franchise in a direction that I think A LOT of people are going to be really happy about. It's going to be gritty and action-packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman."

　　Manganiello also praised Affleck's past work, including his Oscar-winning movies Argo and Good Will Hunting.

　　"Ben's a great director, man. I mean the last movie that man directed won Best Picture," he said. "He's got an Oscar for writing. ... Everything is lined up for a really, really, really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great, great movie."

　　Jeremy Irons, who plays Batman's faithful butler Alfred, recently said in an interview that the Batman film will be in production next summer. This is in line with a previous statement by Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, who said the Batman movie was a "year and a half out."

　　The next movie you'll see Batman in is Justice League, which opens in theaters on November 17, 2017. In addition to Affleck, it stars Gal Gadot (Fast & Furious), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), Ezra Miller (Trainwreck), Ray Fisher Jr. (The Astronaut Wives Club), and Henry Cavill (Man of Steel).