After thebox-office opening weekend success ofSuperman, it’s clear that DC Studios and the new DC Universe continuity are off to a strong start. Fans won’t have to wait long for more DCU content, as there are also two more feature films due in 2026. The first isSupergirl, and the second is a slightly unexpected film that was not part of the original Gods and Monsters slate when James Gunn and Peter Safran first took over DC Studios:Clayface.
Clayfacewas born out of a script written by Mike Flanagan, whose horror work, like the seriesMidnight Massand the filmDoctor Sleep, has earned him critical acclaim in the genre. Gunn and Safran’s excitement over the script would lead to the project being fast-tracked, with James Watkins (Speak No Evilremake) set to direct withTom Rhys Harries as the lead. Now, thanks to an exclusive report from Nexus Point News, we have some supposed plot details regarding the characters and story fromClayface. If this report is to be believed, it will be a stark departure from the comics that inspired the character.
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That’s disappointing, but not entirely surprising.
Nexus Point News states in their report that the film will be heavily inspired by theBatman: The Animated Seriesepisode “Feat of Clay,” with Rhys Harries' character being named Matt Hagen (like the one in the cartoon). This character will serve as an amalgamation of Hagen with the backstory of Basil Karlo, the real name of Clayface in the comics. The story will start with Hagen as a handsome up-and-coming actor who is attacked and disfigured.
‘Clayface’ Is a Character-Driven Horror With Few Connections to Larger DCU
The report goes on to say that while Hagen is from Gotham City, the actor moves to Hollywood to escape a “troubled past” before his career is ruined by his disfigurement, eventually leading to him becoming a shape-shifting monster. Another character in the script, Dr. Caitlin Bates, is an original one created for the film and not based on any specific DC Comics character. Bates views Hagen as a means to achieve her biotech startup’s breakthrough in the medical industry, aiming to cure his condition.
Bates will have a fiancé in the film named John, who becomes suspicious of her activities with Hagen, all while not knowing that Bates is also beginning to fall in love with Clayface. The last thing that Nexus Point mentions is that the villain of the film is a crime boss, and while they don’t say a specific name, they explicitly state that they will also be an original character, similar to Caitlin and John. Overall, these new story details paintClayfaceas a character-driven horror film, withno larger connections to the DCU.
While the lack of characters from the comics and no connection to the DCU might annoy some DC Comics fans, it’s hard to ignore the potential of this upcoming film. The tragic origin story could end up being a success similar to that of Todd Phillips' 2019 filmJoker, while showcasing the potential for different comic characters to be at the center of powerful genre films. Moreover, the Hollywood setting provides the perfect reason for Batman not to be included, as Gunn and Safran work with other creatives to gettheir version of the Caped Crusaderoff the ground.
