Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons
Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons is a 2020 American animated superhero film directed by Sung Jin Ahn. It follows Slade Wilson, who gains enhanced abilities after a military experiment and becomes the mercenary known as Deathstroke. The story explores his turbulent relationships with his family, including his estranged wife Adeline and his children Joseph and Rose, while confronting the consequences of his violent past and faces enemies like H.I.V.E. and his daughter Rose, who has joined the villains.
The film premiered on January 6, 2020. Initially, the series was planned as a 12-episode run on CW Seed, but after the first episode aired, these plans were altered, and the series was repurposed into a direct-to-video animated film titled Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons: The Movie. The film was released digitally and on Blu-ray in August the same year.
Critics praised its action sequences and thematic depth, though some found it lacked subtlety and had muddled dialogue. The animation and voice acting were generally well-received, but the film overall was seen as missing balance and emotional weight, and some reviewers found it cliché-ridden and underwhelming.
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 slit, rendering 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 half-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, appearing to kill 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
- Michael Chiklis as Slade Wilson / Deathstroke
- Sasha Alexander as Adeline "Addie" Kane
- Griffin Puatu as Joseph Wilson / Jericho
- * Asher Bishop as young Joseph Wilson
- Castulo Guerra as General Suarez, Doctor
- Delbert Hunt as Bronze Tiger
- Chris Jai Alex as Jackal
- Faye Mata as H.I.V.E. Queen, Jade
- Panta Mosleh as Lady Shiva, Nurse
- Colin Salmon as William Wintergreen
- Imari Williams as President, H.I.V.E. Pilot
- Minae Noji as Secretary of State
- Noshir Dalal as Kapoor