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Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020) movie poster

Timeline

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 87 mins · English
Echo score 70
Directed by
Sung Jin Ahn
Starring
Michael Chiklis, Chris Jai Alex, Sasha Alexander, Asher Bishop, Noshir Dalal, Faye Mata

Never give a paid killer a reason to work for free The assassin Deathstroke tries to save his family from the wrath of H.I.V.E. and the murderous Jackal.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020)

Where can you watch Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Deathstroke is born

    An accident exposes Slade to an experimental drug that grants him super strength, enhanced agility, and rapid regeneration. The treatment saves his life and radically changes his physical abilities, turning him into the mercenary Deathstroke. With his ally William Wintergreen at his side, he begins taking on dangerous missions.

    When
    Before marriage
    Where
    Experimental facility
  2. Marriage and family life

    Slade marries General Adeline 'Addie' Kane and settles into a family life. They have a son named Joseph, tying his personal life to his dangerous profession. He continues operating as Deathstroke with Wintergreen's help.

    When
    Early after transformation
    Where
    Home
  3. Cambodian mission and forbidden love

    During a mission in Cambodia, Deathstroke meets Lillian and falls in love with her. He completes the mission and returns to his double life, keeping the affair hidden. This romance complicates his balance between family and mercenary work.

    When
    During the mission
    Where
    Cambodia
  4. Rose is born and Lillian dies

    Lillian gives birth to Rose, who becomes an orphan when her mother dies in a hit-and-run accident. Rose grows up alone until she is eventually rescued by Jackal who leads a secret organization. The tragedy marks the start of a new line of conflict around Jericho powers.

    When
    Shortly after Rose's birth
    Where
    Unknown
  5. Jackal trains Rose

    Jackal, leader of the secret organization H.I.V.E., rescues Rose and trains her to become his successor. She is groomed to wield power within H.I.V.E. and to influence events at Slade's side. Her path becomes central to the future of Jericho and the family saga.

    When
    After being rescued
    Where
    H.I.V.E. facility
  6. Joseph kidnapped

    Jackal kidnaps Joseph to pressure Slade into action. Slade returns from a mission to find Addie furious about his secret assassin life and resolves to rescue Joseph. This sets off a renewed chase that tests their fractured relationship.

    When
    After Joseph’s kidnapping
    Where
    Jackal's base; home
  7. Confrontation at Jackal's base; Slade wounded

    Slade tracks down Jackal's base and engages Bronze Tiger and an unnamed female operative. He defeats them and continues toward Joseph, but his throat is slit just before he can rescue him, leaving him mute. The injury marks a turning point in his ability to communicate and act.

    When
    During the rescue attempt
    Where
    Jackal's base
  8. Hospital stay and separation

    Joseph is hospitalized after the attack, and Addie breaks up with Slade. She isolates Joseph at a private school to shield him from Slade's dangerous life. The family fractures as Slade fights to maintain his purpose while living without his voice.

    When
    Shortly after the throat injury
    Where
    Hospital and private school
  9. A decade later; a new threat emerges

    Ten years pass and Slade remains Deathstroke, continuing his mercenary work. The H.I.V.E. Queen contacts him, holding Joseph hostage to force his action. Addie reopens the alliance and shares a kiss with Slade, signaling a renewed but fragile reconciliation.

    When
    Ten years later
    Where
    Unknown
  10. Leads to Kaznia and Kerguelen

    Slade follows intelligence to Colonel Kapoor, then travels to Kaznia to confront Tiger. Tiger reveals that Jackal is alive and that the Queen is located at the Kerguelen Islands. Wintergreen accompanies Slade to the island for the final confrontation.

    When
    After ten years
    Where
    Kaznia; Kerguelen Islands
  11. Isle confrontation and Jericho revealed

    On the island, Slade is confronted by Lady Shiva and surrenders to the H.I.V.E. Queen. The Queen reveals she trained Joseph to use Jericho, a weaponized psychic ability, and Joseph confirms his allegiance to H.I.V.E. Slade realizes the family is further entangled.

    When
    Island sequence
    Where
    Kerguelen Islands
  12. The Queen is Rose; Slade survives

    The Queen is revealed to be Rose, Joseph's sister. Slade is shot into the ocean but regenerates and is saved by Addie, who reveals she placed a tracking device through the kiss. Slade also confronts revealing his affair with Lillian.

    When
    After island confrontation
    Where
    Ocean; shore
  13. Jericho and the global plan

    Jericho's powers threaten to spiral out of control, prompting Rose to help. Slade, Addie, and Wintergreen uncover H.I.V.E.'s plan to use Jericho to control world events and push for a global order. They realize the threat is greater than any individual family war.

    When
    After reveal of Jericho
    Where
    Various; H.I.V.E.
  14. Plane showdown with Jackal and Shiva

    Jackal launches the plan with a series of attacks to draw the president out. On a H.I.V.E. plane, Rose and Jericho betray Jackal, while Slade and Addie confront Jackal and Shiva. Rose defeats Shiva, and Jackal's armor blocks Jericho's psychic feints, allowing a final fall from the plane.

    When
    Climax
    Where
    H.I.V.E. plane; United States
  15. Endgame and ambiguity

    Slade places a bomb on Jackal during the fall, appearing to kill them both. Back home, Jericho remembers his father as Addie welcomes Rose into the Wilson family. Slade's body is washed up on a beach, but he remains alive, leaving his fate open to the audience.

    When
    After the plane climax
    Where
    Beach

Last updated: October 14, 2025 at 04:07

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Timeline questions answered

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Slade's throat cut and what happened to him?

During the rescue attempt at Jackal's base, Deathstroke defeats Bronze Tiger and an unnamed female operative, but just before reaching Joseph, his throat is slit by one of Jackal's guards. The injury severs his vocal cords, rendering him mute for the rest of the film. This turning point forces Slade to communicate through gestures and written notes, significantly altering how he operates as both a father and mercenary.

  • slade throat cut
  • deathstroke mute
  • joseph rescue failed
Q2

Who is the H.I.V.E. Queen and why is she targeting Slade's family?

The H.I.V.E. Queen is revealed to be Rose Wilson, Slade's daughter born from his affair with Lillian in Cambodia. Jackal rescued Rose after her mother's death in a hit-and-run accident and trained her within H.I.V.E. to become his successor. Rose was groomed to wield power within the organization and ultimately used her position to orchestrate events involving her father and brother.

  • rose queen hive
  • deathstroke daughter
  • h.i.v.e. leader
Q3

What is Jericho's psychic ability in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons?

Jericho is Slade's son Joseph's weaponized psychic ability that allows him to possess people through eye contact, effectively controlling their actions. H.I.V.E. trained Joseph to use this power and planned to weaponize it for global control, using Jericho's abilities to influence world events and push for a new world order.

  • jericho power
  • joseph possess
  • psychic ability deathstroke
Q4

Why did Jackal kidnap Joseph Wilson?

Jackal kidnapped Joseph to pressure Deathstroke into action, using the boy as leverage to force Slade to work for H.I.V.E. or eliminate targets they wanted removed. This kidnapping forces Slade to return from a mission and confront the secret assassin life he had been hiding from his family, specifically his wife Addie.

  • joseph kidnapped
  • jackal leverage
  • deathstroke family threatened
Q5

How did Addie track Slade after their separation?

When Addie reconciled with Slade after ten years, she placed a tracking device on him during their kiss. This allowed her to locate him after he was shot into the ocean following the confrontation with Rose on Kerguelen Islands. Addie's secret tracking demonstrates her continued competence as a former military operative even after their marriage ended.

  • addie tracking device
  • kiss tracker
  • adeline kane跟踪
Q6

Why did Rose work with H.I.V.E. after being rescued by Jackal?

After Rose's mother died in a hit-and-run accident, Jackal found and rescued her, then trained her within H.I.V.E. to become his successor. Rose was groomed from childhood to wield power within the organization and was positioned to influence events at her father's side. However, she ultimately betrays Jackal during the plane climax, helping Slade defeat him.

  • rose wilson hive
  • jackal训练
  • deathstroke daughter
Q7

What was H.I.V.E.'s plan to control the world?

H.I.V.E.'s plan involved using Jericho's psychic abilities to control world events and establish a global order. By training Joseph to weaponize his possession power, they intended to influence political leaders and major events worldwide. Jackal executed attacks to draw out the president as part of this larger scheme.

  • hive world domination
  • global control plan
  • jericho weaponized
Q8

How did Slade survive being shot into the ocean?

After being shot by Rose on Kerguelen Islands, Slade fell into the ocean but his experimental serum grants him rapid regeneration. He survived the wound and washing ashore, though he was left weakened. Addie, who had tracked him via the device she placed during their kiss, rescued him from the beach.

  • deathstroke regenerates
  • shot ocean survival
  • slade washes ashore
Q9

Why did Joseph side with H.I.V.E. against his father?

The H.I.V.E. Queen (Rose) reveals that Joseph was trained by the organization to use his Jericho powers. Joseph confirms his allegiance to H.I.V.E., suggesting he was brainwashed or manipulated during his time in their custody. This creates the central family conflict of the film, with Slade needing to save his son from the organization that raised him.

  • joseph hive
  • jericho betrays father
  • joseph possession
Q10

Is Deathstroke alive at the end of the movie?

Slade appears to die at the climax when he places a bomb on Jackal during their fall from the H.I.V.E. plane, with both seemingly dying in the explosion. However, his body is later shown washing up on a beach, and his eyes open, indicating he survived due to his regeneration abilities. His fate remains ambiguous and open to interpretation.

  • deathstroke alive ending
  • slade death scene
  • cliffhanger
Q11

What happened to Rose's mother Lillian in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons?

Lillian was Deathstroke's lover during a mission in Cambodia, where they had a daughter named Rose. Shortly after Rose's birth, Lillian died in a hit-and-run accident, leaving Rose an orphan. This tragedy led to Jackal finding and rescuing Rose, setting her on the path to becoming the H.I.V.E. Queen.

  • lillian deathstroke
  • rose mother died
  • cambodia affair
Q12

How did Slade Wilson become Deathstroke?

Slade was exposed to an experimental drug during his time in an experimental facility before his marriage to Addie. The treatment granted him super strength, enhanced agility, and rapid regeneration, transforming him into the mercenary Deathstroke. He began taking dangerous missions with his ally William Wintergreen, balancing his new lethal profession with his growing family.

  • slade transformation
  • deathstroke origin
  • experimental serum

Movie threads

More Movies Like Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Dark Family Protection Thrillers like Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie

Professionally violent characters forced to use their skills to protect loved ones. If you enjoyed Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie, you'll like these movies where assassins and operatives are forced to protect their families. These films share a similar vibe of high-intensity action, dark themes of revenge, and the heavy emotional stakes of personal sacrifice. They often feature fast-paced, brutal narratives centered on a protector with a dangerous skill set.

  • protective
  • vengeful
  • urgent
  • tense
  • brutal
  • gritty
  • Tone: dark, tense, vengeful
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with a threat from the protagonist's professional life spilling over into their private world, often endangering their family. This forces them to re-engage with the violence they may have sought to leave behind. The plot is a race against time, filled with confrontations with a formidable organization, leading to a conclusion where survival is achieved, but not without significant personal cost.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core premise of a protector using extreme violence for familial love. They consistently blend high-intensity action with heavy emotional stakes, a dark and gritty tone, and a fast-paced, urgent narrative. The central conflict always pits personal redemption against professional damnation.

Gritty Animated Action Movies like Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie

Mature animated films where the action is visceral and the consequences are real. Fans of the serious, high-stakes action in Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie will appreciate these similar animated films. This selection features movies that share a dark tone, complex adult themes, and intense, well-choreographed violence, all presented through animation. They are perfect for viewers seeking mature stories in an animated format.

  • brutal
  • dark
  • visceral
  • stylish
  • tense
  • adult
  • Tone: dark, gritty, serious
  • Pacing: fast, action-packed
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread are typically straightforward, character-driven conflicts set in dystopian, cyberpunk, or dark fantasy worlds. They follow protagonists on a mission of revenge, protection, or survival, facing off against powerful antagonists. The narrative is propelled by frequent, brutal action sequences that have real consequences for the characters, often leading to a bittersweet or bleak resolution.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of animation for mature storytelling. They share a high intensity level, dark tone, and heavy emotional weight, distinguishing them from more family-friendly animated fare. The combination of a fast pace with serious themes and stylized violence creates a unique and cohesive viewing experience.

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Every angle

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons - The Movie (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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