While DC Studios is developing over a dozen films for its new shared universe, only two currently have firm theatrical windows: Supergirl and Clayface. The latter is a particularly curious project, one that was fast-tracked into production after studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran received a completed script from horror master Mike Flanagan, an opportunity they deemed too good to pass up. With the film now in active production, eager fans have been capturing set photos that reveal intriguing details about the movie’s world, including surprising nods to the Joker and a new design for the Gotham City Police Department’s vehicles. As filming continues, a new image from the set offers the best close-up look yet at the titular villain, played by Tom Rhys Harries.
The photo, which has been circulating on the r/DCU_ community on Reddit, shows Harries on set with his head and face partially covered in plasters. What is visible of his disfigured face appears grotesque and unstable, as if pieces could fall off at any moment. The detailed and gruesome makeup work suggests the film will lean heavily on practical effects to bring the monstrous character to life, a celebrated practice in horror that underlines Clayface’s commitment to its genre conventions. This aligns with recent set images showing a bloodied and battered Harries being taken to a hospital, confirming the film will depict the horrific accident that leads to his transformation.
In DC Comics, the identity of Clayface has been held by several individuals, but the two most notable are Basil Karlo and Matt Hagen. The original Golden Age Clayface, Basil Karlo, was a B-list actor who had no superpowers but became a costumed villain after learning a classic horror film he starred in was being remade. The Silver Age introduced Matt Hagen, a treasure hunter who gained temporary shapeshifting abilities after being exposed to a pool of radioactive protoplasm.
The film is drawing its primary inspiration from the acclaimed two-part Batman: The Animated Series episode “Feats of Clay,” which famously merged these two origins. The animated series used the name Matt Hagen but gave him the profession of a successful actor, like Basil Karlo. In that story, Hagen is disfigured in a car accident and becomes addicted to an experimental beauty cream that can temporarily restore his appearance, forcing him into a life of crime to maintain his supply. The story culminates in a catastrophic event where he is force-fed a massive amount of the chemical, transforming him permanently into the monstrous, shape-shifting villain.
Clayface Is the DC Studios’ Most Ambitious Project Yet
Making a villain-focused movie one of its initial offerings is a significant gamble for DC Studios, as this approach has a troubled history in modern comic book adaptations. Joker: Folie à Deux, for instance, was a critical and commercial failure, earning just $207.5 million worldwide against a production budget of nearly $200 million. Similarly, Sony’s efforts to build a cinematic universe around Spider-Man’s villains have seen diminishing returns, with movies like Morbius and Madame Web bombing entirely. However, Clayface is deliberately charting a different course by embracing its identity as a pure horror film, complete with a hard R-rating and a story centered on tragic body horror.
This commitment to genre filmmaking is a core tenet of the new strategy at DC Studios, with co-CEO James Gunn emphasizing that each project will have its own unique tone and style. The creative freedom of the DCU allows filmmakers to tell diverse stories within the same continuity, a move designed to keep the universe fresh and engaging. Furthermore, the financial model for Clayface makes it a much safer bet than its blockbuster counterparts. With a modest budget of $45 million, the film does not need to achieve massive box office numbers to become profitable, offering a path to significant financial returns on a smaller scale. After all, if a niche, R-rated horror movie can be a financial success, it proves the DCU’s stability can be built on more than just its largest tentpole productions.
Clayface is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 11, 2026.
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