James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-chiefs of DC Studios, have confirmed that the upcoming Clayface movie will be part of the DC Universe (DCU) and will have an R rating.
Clayface, a Gotham City criminal with the ability to reshape his body, first appeared in Detective Comics #40 (1940). The character has had multiple iterations, with the original being Basil Karlo. The Clayface film is scheduled for release on September 11, 2026.
DC Studios made the decision to develop a Clayface movie following the success of HBO’s The Penguin series. Mike Flanagan has been selected as the film’s writer, with Lynn Harris producing. Matt Reeves, director of The Batman, is also involved in the project.
During a DC Studios presentation, Gunn and Safran explained why Clayface is part of the DCU rather than Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Gunn stated that “Clayface is totally DCU,” while Safran clarified that Reeves’ Batman-related projects, including The Batman trilogy and The Penguin series, exist separately from the DCU.
Safran emphasized that Clayface is an origin story intended for the DCU. Gunn added that the character would not fit within the grounded, non-superpowered world of Reeves’ The Batman films.
DC Studios is currently in negotiations with James Watkins (Speak No Evil) to direct Clayface. Filming is expected to begin in summer 2025. Safran described the film as a “body horror” movie with a distinctive approach compared to traditional superhero films. Gunn characterized it as “psychological and body horror” and confirmed that the movie will have an R rating.
Safran stated that casting will begin once a director is confirmed. He described Clayface as an “indie-style chiller” and noted that, while the character may not be as widely recognized as The Penguin or The Joker, his story is equally compelling and thematically rich. Gunn noted that the script aligns with the kind of horror films he and Safran would have wanted to produce in the past, highlighting its strong body horror elements.
