Joe Manganiello Reveals Deathstroke Role Was His Lifeline During Illness

The actor, reflecting on the project's collapse in a recent interview, admitted the cancellation initially left him feeling shattered. Without the looming goal of filming, he struggled to reconcile his recovery with the visible toll of his medical crises. Years later, he views the scrapped film not as a misfortune, but as a temporary catalyst that kept him fighting during his darkest months.

His health battle, which began in 2015, involved agonizing symptoms and surgeries that forced him to confront mortality. Manganiello detailed how the ordeal required him to rely on pain management that complicated his long-term sobriety. He noted that the intensity of his condition, which included multiple near-death experiences, ultimately reshaped his perspective on his career and personal life. Following his recovery and the recent release of his memoir, Bloodlines, the actor is now returning to larger projects, including a series regular role in the third season of Netflix’s One Piece.