Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

Theatrical release poster

Joel Silver

***Teen Titans: The Judas Contract*** is a teen superhero science fiction action thriller film based on the DC Comics team Teen Titans. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the film is the eleventh installment in the DC Cinematic Universe and a sequel to *Teen Titans* (2016). It stars an ensemble cast including Leo Howard, Aiden Granger, Sadie Sink, Alexandra Shipp, Salim El-Marsi, Jacob Kim, Scott Adkins, Jason Isaacs, Ella Purnell, Thomas Lucas, Alfre Woodard, and Q'orianka Kilcher. The film follows the Titans, seventeen months after their encounter with Blackfire, as they becomes targets of the metahuman mercenary Deathstroke while investigating a spy in their midst.

Following the successful release of *Teen Titans*, Matthew Vaughn was set to return but declined returning, prompting WB to search for a new director to helm the sequel. The studio chose Vogt-Roberts on the strength of his *Metal Gear Solid* pitch to Sony, believing his passion to the project ideal for a project in the *DC Cinematic Universe*. Writing on the film began in 2017, with the writers seeking to adapt the 1984 comic storyline "*The Judas Contract*", looking to conspiracy fiction and spy films as inspiration. Vogt-Roberts wanted the film to be more of a "suspenseful thriller" than its predecessor. Once again, filming took place mostly in California between Long Beach and San Francisco , employing the same frenetic martial arts fight choreography of *Batman: A Gathering of Shadows* (2016); the film's visual effects were handled by Blur Studio while its makeup effects were handled by Stan Winston Studios.

*The Judas Contract* was released theatrically on June 15, 2018 to critical acclaim from critics who praised the film's cinematography, performances (*particularly Granger, Sink, Adkins, and Kilcher*), action sequences, visual effects, emotional weight, and tone of maturation in contrast to the first film. The film was a box office success, grossing $1.7 billion against its $220 million production budget, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2018 and the highest-grossing film in the *DC Cinematic Universe* until the release of *Static* (2020). The film was followed by a sequel: *Teen Titans: Convergence* (2023).

## Plot

The film begins with an armored truck racing through the streets of Jump City. Inside the truck, four masked men argue bitterly, the leader asking if they are still being pursued. The driver shouts that he doesn’t know as they approach an intersection where an elderly man is crossing the street. As the driver steps on the gas, the truck accelerates closer to the old man as a green-skinned rhinoceros rams the truck before it gets to him, pushing it into an empty donut shop. The truck screeches to a halt as the robbers inside scramble to their guns as a laser pierces the truck’s rear door before it is torn off by Vic Stone whom the robbers open fire on as their leader says, “Kill the robot” while climbing outside. Vic reminds them his name is Cyborg as he fires his sonic cannon into the truck, causing the robbers to drop their guns and grab their ears in agony. He then follows the blast up by shooting a shock round into the truck which neutralizes them all, knocking them unconscious. The rhinoceros enters the donut shop and transforms back into Garfield Logan who gleefully high fives Cyborg, commending his strategy. Cyborg thanks him and tells him he’s lucky the donut shop was empty. In the sky above, Koriand’r levitates, looking down carefully at the streets before informing her teammates that she can see the lead robber through an earpiece. She tells them she is about to pursue but Robin tells her to leave it to him, prompting her to remind him to use her codename Starfire. On the ground, Robin shakes his head before racing off on his motorbike. He spots the lead robber heading for the Metro Train and pursues him into the underground rail station, abandoning his bike at the stairs. Racing through the station, Robin uses his Bo staff to trip the lead robber before moving in to apprehend him. The robber resists, causing a skirmish between them as Robin engages him. An agile fighter, Robin swiftly uses his staff to repeatedly strike the robber who then grabs it and tosses Robin in the wall. Regaining his gun, he prepares to shoot Robin but Raven emerges from the shadows and intervenes, using her psionic magick to throw the robber through an incoming train which breaks his arms and legs. She approaches Robin and helps him to his feet as he stares at the other side of the platform, looking the robber writhe in pain and hearing his cries before telling Raven they should leave.

On the Channel 5 News, a newscaster interviews anti-metahuman television personality G. Gordon Godfrey who proclaims that the government should do something about a “group of teenage metahumans calling themselves heroes”, remarking that one of the robbers from the Jump City heist may never walk again. He further proclaims that metahuman need to be kept in check, positing that the world is not prepared for someone like Superman or the “gaudy young scene child from the alleged Teen Titans”. Meadows Mahalo then shuts off the television as Raven enters the room. She tells Mahalo she doesn’t care about what they’re saying about her and Mahalo says she knows but she can still talk to her about anything, smiling at her. Raven simply ignores Mahalo’s seemingly cheerful demeanor while Cyborg and Garfield enter the common room. Gar notices the despair on Raven’s face despite her words and goes to comfort her while Mahalo asks Cyborg if he’s seen Robin. He says that the Boy Wonder may be in his room before sitting down on the couch. Mahalo somberly looks at Gar and Raven which allows Cyborg to realize something is wrong. Gar tells Raven that she shouldn’t worry about what happened earlier, remarking that the bank robber won’t hurt anyone else. Raven replies that he was just a bank robber, musing that he possibly needed money for a sick child or something. In Robin’s bedroom which is a high tech “millennial recreation” of the Batcave, Tim sits at his computer, angrily reading reports that greatly exaggerate the abilities of his peers while demeaning his own. Tim reels back in his chair, unsure of how to lead a team of metahumans as a normal teenager. Elsewhere in Starfire’s room, she lies across her bed using her smartphone to talk to Dick Grayson, with whom she has begun a relationship with. She tells Dick that she doesn’t fully understand why the people of Earth belittle and degrade their champions but he doesn’t understand what she means as the response to heroes and vigilantes is different throughout the US, specifically the East Coast. Seeking to change the subject, Dick asks her if she and the other Titans are still putting together the surprise birthday celebration for Tim. Starfire truthfully tells Dick that despite Tim’s birthday being a happy occasion, she doesn’t think that the other Titans will be in any position to celebrate anything. Dick doesn’t disagree and simply tells Starfire he will be there tomorrow. Elsewhere in Markovia, several armed guards walk the perimeter outside Castle Markov, carefully peering over the cliffs that border the castle. Inside the castle. King Victor Markov stands in his office, listening silently to his advisors inform him of the threats against the country. He tells them that their country cannot create enemies where allies exist, citing the United States helping them expel the Nazis from their home during World War II. As their diplomatic conversations continue, a young girl emerges from a hiding spot in the hall, seemingly spying on the king and his dignitaries. Noticing her, King Victor pauses his proceedings to confront the child, addressing her as his daughter Tara. He tells her she should be in bed and she replies that she is afraid. He lovingly picks her up and begins carrying her back to her room. Outside the castle, the armed guards control their patrols until they begin getting picked off one by one, being brutally killed by a shadowy figure. Back inside the castle, King Victor carries the young Tara to her bed and tucks her in, kissing her forehead. She begins to hear a commotion, accompanied by gunshots which alerts King Victor. He tells Tara he will be right back before disappearing into shadow with an agonizing scream. An older Tara awakens in the seat of a Greyhound bus in a cold sweat, revealing that she had been dreaming of the past. She turns to her traveling companion, a mute young man she calls Jer, telling him to wake up as they’ve arrived in California. Using sign language, Jer asks Tara what they are supposed to do now and she replies, “Find the Teen Titans”.

Back in Jump City, Cyborg sits atop Titans Tower using a sophisticated data network to monitor his father Silas who is back in Detroit. He watches somberly as his father frantically paces his apartment, unable to come to grips with the fact his son is “dead”. Cyborg is startled by Tim coming out on the roof, prompting the latter to attempt to leave. Cyborg tells him it's fine and the two sit down, staring at the sunrise. Tim asks Cyborg if he misses his dad and Cyborg tells him a little, asking Tim the same. Tim says yes but he doesn’t feel as close to him as Dick. Tim then asks Cyborg if they’re doing the right thing, asking if a bunch of teens such as themselves can make a difference in a world that’s constantly changing. Cyborg replies that he doesn’t know but he feels that it’s what he should do or the only thing he can. Tim agrees with him and the two continue watching the sun rise over the clouds. Inside the Tower, Gar attempts to surprise Raven with a “special” breakfast, making waffles which makes her smile, to his surprise. However, Raven deliberately dismisses his efforts to cheer her up, feeling that she doesn’t deserve it. Mahalo then enters the common area, halting in her tracks, thinking she’s interrupting a tender moment. Gar reassures she hasn’t before storming out, to Raven’s sadness. She confides in Mahalo, telling her she feels that she doesn’t belong there. Mahalo responds that she knows that isn’t true, gently grasping Raven’s hand and looking in her eyes before telling her that for the last year she has been selflessly helping those in need. Before Raven can thank Mahalo, the latter’s phone rings and she tells Raven she has to leave. Raven somberly watches her leave as Starfire enters the common area, becoming inadvertently affected by Raven’s sullen mood due to her psionic abilities. Noticing Raven is causing this, she asks if there is anything she can do. Raven then tells her to simply talk to her. Meanwhile, Mahalo travels to a coffee shop in Downtown Jump City where she meets with A.R.G.U.S. analyst Etta Candy. Etta tells her that Titans’ operations are proving too dangerous for even her to keep sweeping under the rug, remarking that even Amanda Waller seeks to conscript them. Mahalo tells Etta that they’re saving people and making a difference while callously remarking that Waller hasn’t recruited Batman, Wonder Woman, or Superman because she can’t. Etta jokingly changes the subject asking if she’s “met the Dark Knight” before Mahalo thanks her for everything. She tells her that the “big bad wolf” is coming to blow her brick house down and she says even she might not be able to help her when it happens. At a GameStop near Downtown, Gar pursues the shelves where the used PS3 games are located, attempting to take his mind off the Raven situation. The clerk recognizes and tells him that anything he wants is free of charge but he notices a commotion at the Panda Express across the street. Heading there, Gar encounters Tara who had been attempting to steal food. He offers to pay for it but she recognizes him as well, telling him she needs his help. He then begrudgingly accompanies her to the location of Jer where she attempts to explain why she needs the Titans’ help. The trio are then interrupted by a masked man in armor who Tara says is the man who has been pursuing them across the country. Gar activates his locator before engaging the masked man who swiftly dispatches Gar with a bo staff. Back at Titans Tower in the commons room, Tim receives the alert from Gar’s locator and mobilizes the Titans, donning his Robin armor. Downtown, a wounded Gar leads Tara and Jer away from the masked man, boarding a Metro train as he gives pursuit. As the other Titans close in on their location, Robin takes point, instructing Cyborg to stop the train remotely, telling Starfire to line up a shot at the masked man, and urging Raven to get in his head while he races next to the train on his motorbike. Raven attempts to establish a telepathic link but is unsuccessful instead hearing the voice of another aboard the train. Cyborg is able to stop the train, allowing civilians to flee.as he boards while Starfire maintains an aerial position, surveying the scene carefully. Robin stops his motorbike and joins Cyborg, with Raven joining them in search of Gar. They find Jer attempting to keep the wounded Gar conscious while Tara actively searches for the masked man. The masked man emerges and brutally cracks Tara’s jaw with his staff before engaging the Titans. He swiftly incapacitates Cyborg with a sawed-off shotgun blast to the leg before knocking him out with a strike. Robin yells for Raven to get Gar out as he engages the masked man with his own staff. The two display a great deal of martial skill before the masked man brandishes a katana, ultimately overwhelming Robin with his speed and force. He gains the upperhand by pinning Robin between two seats with his staff before pulling his hair and preparing to deliver a killing strike with his katana before Raven uses her power to throw him from the train into the street. She emerges from the train, preparing to further engage him but Tara attacks him herself telepathically smashing a rock into him, revealing she is a metahuman. Tara continues to attack him but he effectively evades her attacks with ease, with Raven being affected by the emotional energy displayed by the former. The masked man hears the sirens of the authorities and simply escapes, stealing Robin’s motorbike. A weakened Robin stumbles off the train as the Jump City PD arrive with Mahalo among them. He passes a somber look to Raven who in turns asks Tara, “who the hell are you?”

Back at Titans Tower, Mahalo helps Cyborg repair his leg, welding the metal covering over the wires and machinery in his leg. She asks him if he can feel anything and he tells her he can’t. He asks her if she has anything on the guy who attacked them and she tells him no but she has one of her contacts on it before asking if anyone’s seen Robin. Cyborg tells her he must be with Gar in his room before asking what’s going to happen to Tara and Jer. Mahalo truthfully tells Cyborg she doesn’t know as the two kids sit in the kitchen. The doors to the common area open and a jovial Dick Grayson enters, greeting everyone until they all look at him with annoyed expressions. In Gar’s room, he lies on his bed with his body wrapped in bandages as Raven sits by his side. He opens his eyes to her but the first thing he asks Raven is if the girl is okay which slightly upsets her. She tells him that she is before asking if she’s said anything but he tells her no. Gar looks down at his bandages and asks, “What hit us?”. On the rooftop of the Titans Tower, Tim nurses his bruised ribs and a busted lip as Starfire descends upon him from the air, checking on his well-being. Tim tells her that he’ll be down in a minute to address what to do with Tara and Jer but Starfire presses further, attempting to see if he is truly alright. Tim then shouts at her, urging her to leave him alone which saddens her but she acquiesces. Descending to the roof, Starfire approaches the entrance where Dick emerges. She is happy to see him but notices that he is the only one who can talk to Tim, silently kissing his cheek before entering the Tower. Dick then approaches Tim, noticing the scorch marks and dents in his armor and asks him to tell him what happened. In the Tower’s common room, the wounded Gar and Raven join Mahalo, Cyborg, Tara, and Jer who are attempting to get to the bottom of the situation. Raven instantly begins to feel an odd energy upon entry which Mahalo seems to notice. She approaches Raven and comforts her while Cyborg asks Jer why the masked man is pursuing which prompts Tara to inform them that Jer can’t speak. Mahalo echoes Cyborg’s question while Raven callously asks why Gar insisted they be brought there instead of the Jump City PD. Starfire then enters, telling them that all three (including Gar) need to explain. Back atop the Tower, Tim tells Dick that he feels he isn’t fit to lead a team of metahumans, explaining that the masked man’s training exceeded his own. He further explains that while the others have their powers he is simply “a kid in kevlar tights”. Dick, however, disagrees with his adopted brother, telling him that he proved himself as Robin time and time again. He comforts Tim, telling him they’ll find this together and bring him down but he affirms that he will follow Tim’s lead. Tim laughs but confides in Dick, telling him that this enemy isn’t like anything they’ve ever faced before. Dick jokes that they fought an actual alien together while Tim retorts that he’s dating one. The two share a small laugh as Dick places his hand on Tim’s shoulder and tells him he believes in him while the sun sets over Jump City. He suggests the deal with the “elephant in the room” before the two head inside.

In a secret bunker, the masked man sits affront of a laptop while cleaning his MP5 submachine gun as he receives an encoded message from his employer, known only by the screenname “HIVE\_Mind21”, concerning his task of neutralizing the Titans. He uses a voice to text app which records his words as he tells them that it will require some time before he can deliver. He receives another message which orders him not to delay any further, addressing him as “Deathstroke”. Deathstroke calmly places his MP5 on the ground beside him before somberly turning to a picture of two young boys running and another of a young girl with silver hair. He then uses his app to message another user on his contact list under the screenname “End1ess” asking if they are in. The user messages back writing back, “In but working to gain trust”. Back at Titans Tower, Robin leads Tara and Jer to a spare room located on the west side near Raven. He assures Tara that she and Jer will be safe until the Titans can figure out how to truly help them. Tara seems to silently accept, ushering Jer into the room before Robin returns to the common room where the other Titans are waiting. Raven remarks that keeping Tara and Jer in the Tower is dangerous, adding that there is a negative energy surrounding them. Mahalo agrees with Raven, prompting Robin to tell them that he expects Raven to monitor their thoughts psionically. Gar becomes upset by this as Raven exclaims that no one asked her if she would be up to it, with her confusing Gar’s anger as him coming to her defense but he is truthfully angry about the Titans’ distrust of Tara. Starfire tells them that they can’t leave as they’ve seen Dick’s face but Cyborg tells them they can’t exactly keep them prisoner. Dick chimes in, saying that he’s more interested in the character that attacked them while looking at a viral video of the incident. Mahalo reminds him that she has her contact working on it and Robin tells her to urge her contact to work faster as they “just got their asses kicked”. Dick then asks Cyborg if Deathstroke’s armor looked familiar and Cyborg tells him he did recognize a familiar radiation coming from it. He then tells the Titans he may have a lead as Starfire offers to join him which he obliges. Robin tells Dick to keep him informed and Dick winks at him, silently letting him know he’s doing a good job. Unbeknownst to them, they are being spied on by Tara and Jer, with the former telling Jer to stand watch before venturing to the lower area of the Tower. Stealthily infiltrating Mahalo’s office, she inserts a flash drive into the PC located beneath Mahalo’s desk and initializes a program which begins copying data. Meanwhile in Detroit, Starfire and Nightwing land at S.T.A.R. Labs where they break in. As they infiltrate the building, Starfire asks if Tim is alright and he assures her that Tim is. Starfire reveals that she knows it must be hard for him, being the only Titan without powers. Dick tells her Tim has powers and they just can’t see them before telling her they’ve found what they were searching for: the address of Silas Stone. Back at the secret bunker, Deathstroke receives a cache of data through email but is enraged upon opening the file, discovering that it’s only Mahalo’s journal entries, favorite music, and family photos. He uses his app to message End1ess, telling them that he requires actual intel before writing HIVE\_Mind21 and telling them he will require minor support units in the near future. Back at Titans Tower, Mahalo receives a call from Trevor who tells her to meet with him and as she departs, Tara tries to follow but is interrupted by Gar. She feigns fleeing the Tower and he suggests they get “some air” together which she agrees to. Gar and Tara depart the Tower as Raven watches in despair. Cyborg, who is relaxing in the shadows of the common area, stares out at the Jump City skyline but notices Raven’s feelings, due to her empathetic projections. He asks her if she would like to join him and she reluctantly says yes. She asks him if he would turn on a light but he says he prefers the dark which seems to make her smile. In Robin’s room, Tim attempts to piece together the current events, desperately trying to find a connection between Deathstroke and the kids or even Batman. However, he remembers his battle with Deathstroke which makes him impulsively shave his head. In Detroit, Starfire and Nightwing arrive at the apartment of Silas Stone where she asks him why they didn’t bring Cyborg since Silas is his father. Nightwing reminds her that Cyborg is the way he is now because of Silas, prompting Starfire to ask if it was right for him to make Cyborg coming his choice instead of Cyborg’s. Nightwing seems to feel remorse as they knock on Silas’ door who opens it and is surprised to see them. Nightwing tells him that they need his opinion on Promethium. Back in Jump City, Mahalo meets Etta in a closed restaurant but Etta seems to be hiding something. Amanda Waller emerges from the empty kitchen, telling Mahalo they have alot to talk about. Back in Detroit, Silas reveals to Nightwing and Starfire that Promethium is an experimental alloy created and patented by a man named Steve Dayton which eventually received application through government contracts. Starfire then asks him if he knows who Deathstroke is, showing him a photograph from the fight in Jump City. Silas, however, becomes emotional after catching a glimpse of Cyborg in the photograph, asking if they know where he is. Nightwing thanks him for his help and signals  Starfire that they’re leaving. Silas pleads with Nightwing, simply asking him to deliver a message to Cyborg, telling him that he loves him and always has. Nightwing silently assures he will and departs with Starfire, knowing he made a mistake. Back in Jump City, Amanda Waller explains that Deathstroke is a mercenary who was former US Army and underwent an experimental procedure during the Gulf War which made him a metahuman. She further explains that he is the best mercenary in the world but remarks that she noticed a change when he lost his wife and kids. Mahalo asks what happened and Etta tells her his oldest son joined the Army, becoming subject to the same experiments that enhanced him but they killed him. His younger son was attacked by one of his enemies and his throat was slit while his daughter just hates him. Mahalo sternly asks Waller if she hired Deathstroke and the latter confesses that she didn’t but instructs Mahalo to get the Titans out of California as whoever did, wants them dead. She tells Mahalo that Deathstroke’s initial attack was to gather information and that his second will be a killing blow.

At a beach along the Jump City Pier, Gar walks with Tara as the two eat frozen yogurt. He asks her about her life but all she tells him is that she is from Markovia. He prods further, asking her if Jer is her brother which she reveals he is, telling Gar their father’s work is what brought them so far from home. Gar asks if that's why Deathstroke is chasing them and she refuses to elaborate, becoming defensive. He apologizes and begins innocently telling her about his life before meeting the Titans which interests her, leading to him inadvertently revealing how all the Titans met, who Mahalo is, and how they came to live in the Tower. Gar tells her that she and Jer could stay with them and become Titans which prompts a wry smile from her. A notification rattles the smartphone in Tara’s pocket and its vibration is audible enough for Gar to hear so she distracts him by kissing him. Unbeknownst to them, Robin is perched on a nearby building, watching them with binoculars. He then returns to Titans Tower, finding Cyborg and Raven relaxing on the couch, staring out of the Tower’s large window before he ventures to the room of Tara and Jer. Jer is relaxing, listening to music as Robin approaches him. He is initially frightened but Robin assures him he comes in peace, communicating in ASL. He asks Jer why Deathstroke is pursuing him and Tara but Jer tells Robin that he doesn’t know. He remains adamant about his ignorance to Deathstroke’s hunt, prompting Robin to sternly tell him to look at him which causes an odd sensation. Tim seems to find himself floating in an ethereal void where he sees Jer who feverishly apologizes but his voice audible, despite his mouth not moving. He then waves his hand, releasing Robin who finds himself still in his armor, standing by Jer’s bed. Robin realizes Jer is a metahuman and sternly tells him he has some explaining to do. As Gar and Tara return to the Tower, they are met by Robin, Raven, Cyborg, and Jer who want to finally address the elephant in the room. Robin tells Tara that Mahalo informed him the man who is hunting them is a mercenary named Deathstroke and demands to know what she knows about it; the mere mention of his name seems to startle both her and Jer before she tells them she has no idea what a Deathstroke is. Raven exclaims that she’s lying which prompts Gar to defend Tara, saying that Raven is just jealous. Cyborg attempts to diffuse the situation while Robins prods further, explaining that Deathstroke is a dangerous man and shouldn’t be taken lightly. He then tells Tara he knows that Jer is a metahuman and simply seeks to know who hired Deathstroke to hunt them down, with Cyborg asking if it was S.T.A.R. Labs. Jer uses his psychic voice to tell the Titans that it was the H.I.V.E. which causes Tara to shout at him to shut up which makes Gar realize they are hiding something. As Tara’s rage grows, Raven begins to feel her emotional energy, causing her jewel to glow and whispers to swirl in her ears. She angrily grabs Tara’s throat psionically as a shadow grows in the room. Jer instinctively attempts a psychic blast to save his sister but it affects everyone but Raven who attempts to strangle Tara while using her powers to blast Jer back. Robin lifts himself up, pleading with Raven but she becomes overtaken by the rage and fear she is absorbing as a weakened Gar begs her to stop. Tara inadvertently triggers a small earthquake beneath the Tower as a combat helicopter appears in the distant sky. Aboard the helicopter, Deathstroke orders the paramilitary H.I.V.E soldiers not to engage or get in his way. The helicopter hovers near the Tower and begins opening fire which causes the Titans to scatter. An empowered Raven drops Tara, turning her attention to the helicopter as Deathstroke crashes through the broken window. Cyborg, Gar, and Robin scramble to their feet as Tara tries to help Jer. Deathstroke uses his staff to fire a projectile at Raven’s forehead, hitting her jewel and incapacitating her through electrocution. Robin and Cyborg engage Deathstroke who fends them off using both his staff and katana, effortlessly blocking their attacks. He callously mocks Robin’s haircut, allowing him to brutally knock him back with a vicious punch. Cyborg then activates his sonic cannon which Deathstroke dodges, using a pressure point strike to immobilize him before remarking, “Human after all, tin man?”. Deathstroke is blindsided by Gar in the form of a panther which knocks the two out of the Tower window, allowing Gar to save himself by turning into a bird while Deathstroke plummets to the ground. Robin, fearing for Gar, races after them, gliding down to the base of the Tower where he finds the seemingly unconscious Deathstroke. While Cyborg and Raven are immobilized in the Tower, the H.I.V.E. soldiers infiltrate it and kidnap them, placing them aboard the helicopter. Gar lands near Robin and the two investigate Deathstroke’s body as he springs up, engaging them. Deathstroke pulls his MP5 but allows Robin to swat it from his hand, causing him to shoot Gar in the abdomen. Robin abandons the skirmish to check on Gar, placing pressure on his wound as Deathstroke approaches. He tells Robin he isn’t of any use and that he will allow him to walk away but Robin refuses to leave his friend, picking up his staff to engage Deathstroke as a boulder collides into him, knocking him unconscious. The wounded Gar turns to see Tara, using her powers to help Deathstroke. She informs Deathstroke that the alien has yet to return but he tells her it’s fine, ordering her to collect Robin. She asks him why but Jer emerges, psychically telling her not to question “Dad”. Deathstroke approaches the wounded Gar and brutally knocks him out with a kick to the face as Tara and Jer look on.

Gar awakens in a hospital room, handcuffed to a gurney with stitches in his abdomen. He attempts to transform but notices a strange high-tech collar on his neck. Tara sits up in her chair near the door of the room, telling him that it’s a power dampener meant to nullify his metahuman genes. Gar lashes out at Tara angrily asking why she is doing this and she replies that it’s not personal, simply a job that she helped her father with. Gar scoffs, retorting that Deathstroke doesn’t care about her which angers Tara. She exclaims that Gar and his “fake family” deserve whatever H.I.V.E. is going to do to them. In another part of the facility, Deathstroke enters an office where he meets with  the leader of H.I.V.E., a man named Sebastian Blood who is ecstatic about the capture of the Titans, although he remarks that they are “missing some”. Deathstroke finally removes his helmet, revealing his aged visage with gray hair and an eyepatch over his missing right eye. He tells Blood that he desires his payment so he and his children can be done with their “contract”. Blood then tells Deathstroke he would like him to stay at least until they receive their “prize” which angers Deathstroke. He tells Blood that he’s put his kids in harm’s way enough to facilitate the capture of the Titans but he will no longer endanger them. Blood divulges to Deathstroke that should he try to leave, he will reveal to Tara what really happened in Markovia fourteen years ago. Deathstroke angrily unsheathes his katana but Blood tells him to behave as he can either lose his daughter or “watch her die”. He tells Deathstroke to enjoy the festivities before departing the office, leaving Deathstroke to take his anger out on the furniture, angrily slicing Blood’s desk in half. Back at Titans Tower, Nightwing and Starfire return to witness the destruction caused by Deathstroke and H.I.V.E., with Nightwing frantically searching for Robin. Mahalo emerges from the corridor, telling them that Deathstroke took the Titans as she shows them the security footage on her tablet. She tells Nightwing and Starfire what she knows about Deathstroke, including his background in the US Army but also reveals that she may know where they as Robin’s locator was triggered following the attack. Nightwing suggests that they go get them but Starfire asks if they are going without backup, urging Dick to call Batman. Mahalo says Waller might owe her one last favor. Shortly after, the three are aboard a Blackhawk headed for the Rocky Mountains where the H.I.V.E. secret facility is. Etta Candy informs Mahalo that Waller dug up some information on Deathstroke for her, also telling Nightwing. The information includes his real name, what happened to his family and his last mission in service of the CIA in Markovia 2004. With this information, Nightwing and Starfire descend on the facility but before Mahalo gives her a transponder which will trigger an A.R.G.U.S. response before wishing her luck. Mahalo jumps out of the Blackhawk and descends to the facility. Inside the H.I.V.E. facility, Blood has Raven, Cyborg, and Robin brought before him but Cyborg is powered down while Raven is catatonic, a result of the psychotropic drugs in her system. The heavily wounded Robin is brought out by H.I.V.E., one of whom attempts to remove his mask but Deathstroke tells him not to. Blood informs Deathstroke that the Titans were never the target, Raven was. He reveals to Deathstroke and his men that the other Titans would be experimented on and disposed of in H.I.V.E’s pursuit of “human advancement”. Deathstroke asks why Raven is so important and Blood points to her jewel in her forehead, telling him that she is a cambion. He explains that while the metahuman gene has evolved the human species, the mystical secrets locked within Raven can help them answer questions like is there a God. Elsewhere in the facility, Nightwing and Starfire stealthily search for the Titans as Mahalo stumbles upon Jericho who is surprised to see her. Before he can trigger the alarm, Mahalo is able to calm him down, telling her that she is merely looking for her family. Jericho tells her he never meant to hurt anyone, he just wanted to help his father, causing Mahalo to realize he is Deathstroke’s biological son. She asks him to tell her everything while Nightwing discovers Gar’s location near the medical wing but notices Tara escorting upon Blood’s summoning. He and Starfire follow closely while Mahalo tells them she knows where the other Titans via comms. Nightwing tells her he does, too, as he and Starfire discover an operating theater where Blood, Deathstroke, and the other Titans are located. Below, Blood has Raven placed on an operating table as Robin regains consciousness, carefully surveying his surroundings and formulating a plan. Nightwing notices Robin waking up and tests the frequency in his earpiece, establishing contact with him. He tells Robin to hang tight as he and Starfire attempt to formulate a plan. Blood leans over Raven who suddenly awakes, screaming in pain as her ruby emanates a bright red light. Tara enters with the wounded Gar who sees Raven writhing in pain and shouts her name. Hearing him, Raven throws Blood back with her psionics and begins floating which prompts Robin to quickly dispatch the soldiers holding him. Nightwing rushes down Starfire notices Mahalo and Jericho entering, she orders them to help Cyborg before joining the fray. Blood rejoices at Raven’s power while Deathstroke tells Jericho to get Tara as they are leaving but Jericho refuses, saying that they should help the Titans. Deathstroke refuses as Nightwing engages him alongside Robin. Gar begs Tara to release him from the power dampener but she is unsure what to do as she sees her “father” fighting Nightwing and Robin while Raven curls into the fetal position in midair. Mahalo is able to power Cyborg back up while Raven sees Gar with Tara and becomes more demonic in appearance, causing to Gar to beg Tara to take the collar. She reluctantly does and Gar approaches Raven. Deathstroke effortlessly fends off both Nightwing and Robin, incapacitating them before forcibly retrieving Jericho. He drags his away, attempting to do the same with Tara until Blood shoots him with a grenade launcher, injuring Jericho and knocking both Deathstroke back. Fearing that his children are harmed, Deathstroke removes his helmet and scrambles to Jericho’s side, screaming for Tara and frantically searching for her. Meanwhile, Gar tells Raven it’s okay and attempts to calm her down but she remains pessimistic. She tells him she is a monster but he replies that she is a Titan before tightly embracing her, telling her he won’t give up on her. Blood taunts Deathstroke, telling him that once the truth comes out, he will lose Tara like he lost own daughter assuming she isn’t dead. Deathstroke fights back tears as a wounded Tara emerges, knocking the gun from Blood’s hand with a rock before asking Deathstroke what he is talking about. The Titans regroup alongside Mahalo, watching as Deathstroke cradles Jericho while Tara demands to know what Blood is talking about. Mahalo interjects, telling Tara that in 2004, Deathstroke took an assignment from the US government to “rein in’ the king of Markovia. Blood tells Tara that Deathstroke killed her father and  she tearfully asks him if this is true, addressing Deathstroke by his first name: Slade. Slade tells her that King Victor wasn’t the target, she was but he couldn’t, telling her she reminded him of his Rose. Tara’s eyes glow yellow with terrakinectic energy as she cries out, hurling a boulder at Deathstroke and Jericho. Starfire instinctively blasts the boulder to bits which prompts a fight between Tara and the Titans. Blood smiles upon his duplicitous achievement before Cyborg brutally breaks his jaw. Gar tries to reason with Tara while Starfire battles her but Raven, weakened by her ordeal, tries to muster up energy. The demonic whispers in her ears grow louder but Slade simply places his hand on her shoulder, telling her he will stop it before urging her to get the Titans out. Tara knocks Starfire back and impales Gar in the leg with a piece of jagged stone as Robin and Nightwing try to stop her, to no avail. She encases Nightwing in rock and attempts to kill Mahalo as Robin intervenes, successfully saving her. As he is locked in grapple with Tara, Slade emerges behind her and stabs her through the chest with his katana while Robin screams in protest. Tara’s blood sprays his face as she falls back into Deathstroke’s arms. Cyborg frees Nightwing and regroups with Starfire and Raven who helps the wounded Gar on his feet. Slade grabs Jericho’s body and the dying Tara, cradling them close while he tells the Titans to go. Mahalo tells the Titans they shouldn’t leave him, remarking that he’s been H.I.V.E.’s puppet, revealing that they started all of this when they murdered his family and crippled Jericho. Slade’s eye gleams with anger as he peers at the unconscious Sebastian Blood while Tara’s body convulses, her powers shake the facility. Slade turns to Raven who then wraps a veil of shadow around the Titans and despite Robin’s protests, teleports them outside the facility where an A.R.G.U.S. team arrives on scene as the mountain facility collapses.

Some time later, Mahalo, Dick, Tim, Raven, Cyborg, a recovering Gar, and Starfire hold a small funeral ceremony with mock graves for Slade, Tara, and Jericho; although, both Dick and Tim feel Slade does not deserve it. Mahalo reminds them that they were all victims. Cyborg confronts Dick, revealing that Starfire told him they went to see his father and tells him that they should’ve told him before announcing that he’s leaving the Titans. Tim attempts to dissuade him but Raven also reveals she is leaving the Titans, to Gar’s surprise. Raven tells them that her being there will only ever endanger them as H.I.V.E. only came after the Titans because of her. Mahalo, while sad, accepts Raven’s decision and supports her with a teary goodbye. Cyborg has an emotional embrace with Mahalo, Tim, and Gar before he and Raven seemingly depart. Tim watches somberly as they leave while Gar, Starfire, and Mahalo give him some distance. Dick tells Tim that now it is the time to show the world that “superpower of his” and Tim replies that he thinks it is before the two depart the cemetery.

In the film’s mid-credits scene, Raven awakens from a nightmare in cold sweat, frantically searching around in the shadows as the eerie whispers grow louder in her ears. She scrambles to the restroom where she finds a pill bottle as the light bulb bursts, leaving her in darkness where she hears a demonic voice say, “Hello, daughter”. The film’s post-credits scene details A.R.G.U.S. investigating the rubble of the H.I.V.E. facility where Deathstroke’s helmet rests atop a mound of rubble until an gloved hand lifts it, implying Deathstroke’s survival.

## Cast

* Leo Howard as Dick Grayson/Nightwing
* Aiden Granger as Tim Drake/Robin
* Sadie Sink as Rachel Roth/Raven
* Alexandra Shipp as Koriand'r
* Salim El-Marsi as Vic Stone/Cyborg
* Jacob Kim as Garfield Logan
* Scott Adkins as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
* Jason Isaacs as Sebastian Blood
* Ella Purnell as Tara Markov
* Thomas Lucas as Joseph "Jericho" Wilson
* Russell Brand as G. Gordon Godfrey *(cameo)*
* Emma Duncan as Etta Candy *(cameo)*
* Q'orianka Kilcher as Meadows Mahalo
* Alfre Woodard as Amanda Waller *(cameo)*
* Courtney B. Vance as Silas Stone