DCU Timeline Update Solves a 2-Year-Old Batman Villain Plot Hole

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The DC Universe is newer than franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, so there are fewer movies and shows to follow right now. As the universe expands, fans will naturally wonder where each new project fits into the overall timeline. James Gunn, a leader at DC Studios, has already clarified that this summer’s Supergirl movie takes place between the events of Superman and Man of Tomorrow, which matches the order of their release dates. However, the timeline for Clayface, the second DCU movie planned for 2026, is a bit more complex.

I was so excited when the first Clayface trailer dropped, and I immediately hopped on Threads to ask James Gunn where it fit in the new DCU timeline. He got back to me and said it actually takes place before the events of Superman! Apparently, it’s the first movie we’ll see from the DCU, even though it’s earlier in the timeline – pretty cool, right?

What Clayface‘s Placement in the DCU Timeline Means

It’s important to know that the upcoming Clayface film takes place before the events of Superman. This helps solve a potential storyline issue with the character. Clayface recently appeared in two episodes of the animated series Creature Commandos, which launched in late 2024. While fans are excited about the film, some were puzzled by the timeline. The movie shows how Matt Hagen becomes Clayface – an actor who is attacked and badly injured, then undergoes experimental treatment that turns him into a metahuman. Before James Gunn confirmed the timeline, there was debate about when Clayface was set, as it wouldn’t make sense if it happened after the Creature Commandos episodes.

James Gunn has stated that the events of Clayface happen before the Superman movie (and therefore before everything else in the DC Universe). He hasn’t explained how it fits with Creature Commandos, but it’s likely Clayface also takes place earlier in the timeline than that series. This would allow the fully transformed Clayface to exist during the Creature Commandos story, meaning Matt Hagen would have already become Clayface and gotten used to his new form. We’ll likely learn more about the connection between Clayface and Creature Commandos in the future.

It’s possible the Clayface we see in the movie and Creature Commandos are different people. The comics have shown multiple characters become Clayface, so it’s not unheard of. Matt Hagen was actually the second person to take on the Clayface identity, following the original, Basil Karlo. However, it’s unclear if DC Studios wants to introduce two Clayfaces so quickly. To keep things simple, it might be best to focus on developing one main Clayface character across all DC Universe projects before adding others.

Even if the Clayface character appears in both the Clayface film and Creature Commandos, the movie should still be easy for anyone to enjoy. James Gunn wants to avoid making viewers feel like they need prior knowledge to understand the DC Universe stories. He aims for each project to be good on its own, while still hinting at a larger connected universe. This could become trickier as the DCU develops, but for now, Clayface should work as a scary, self-contained horror film, ideal for watching around Halloween.

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2026-04-23 18:44