First Look at DC’s R-Rated Clayface Movie Revealed Ahead of Batman Spinoff Trailer

by

A new Batman villain is getting the spotlight! Tom Rhys Harries will star as Clayface, a classic character known for his clay-like body and ability to change shape, in a DC movie coming out in 2026. Clayface first appeared in comics in 1940 and, surprisingly, hasn’t been in a live-action Batman film until now – despite being a popular villain in animated series. Like the recent Joker movie, this film focuses on the villain’s story without Batman appearing, and it’s expected to be a different kind of DC movie.

Over the years, the comic books have featured different versions of the villain Clayface. The second Clayface, Matt Hagen, first appeared in the 1950s after being exposed to radioactive material while treasure hunting. The new Clayface in the DC Universe is an actor, drawing inspiration from both the Batman: The Animated Series version and the original character, Basil Karlo. The story involves Matt being disfigured by a criminal and then undergoing surgery that transforms him into a clay-like being. Before the transformation, fans can see a photo of Matt’s normal face on the cover of a magazine within the DC Universe, as shared on the official Instagram account for the Clayface movie – showcasing him as a rising star.

The photo is paired with the tagline, “A face you won’t forget.” It’s from a magazine playfully named Most Glazed, which highlights Matt Hagen as an up-and-coming actor to watch.

A Clayface Trailer Should Be Coming Soon (Will It Prove The Doubters Wrong?)

A sneak peek at Clayface was revealed at CinemaCon last week, but wasn’t available to the public. Based on descriptions, it appears the footage effectively captures the character’s transformation, showing a heavily bandaged man and a glimpse of Clayface himself. The film also leans into the disturbing, physical aspects of the character, potentially making it a unique entry in the DC movie universe. While there’s no official release date for the trailer, with the trailer completed and social media promotion starting, it’s likely to appear online very soon.

The upcoming Clayface movie has raised some eyebrows, mainly because it’s a Batman villain story without Batman himself. While a similar approach worked incredibly well for the Joker film in 2019 – becoming a huge financial and critical success – it’s a difficult feat to repeat, and Clayface isn’t as well-known a character. It will be fascinating to see how the story unfolds, but the promotional images suggest the film will focus on Matt’s character arc as a dark and tragic story, which could be very engaging for audiences.

Another positive development is that the story initially came from Mike Flanagan, a highly respected horror director, who first presented it to DC heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. While Flanagan is no longer directing – James Watkins, another horror specialist, has taken over – and the script has been revised by Hossein Amini, the project is still expected to stay true to Flanagan’s original concept. That concept was heavily influenced by the two-part episode “Feat of Clay” from the classic Batman: The Animated Series, which also features Hagen as a talented actor. Early reactions at CinemaCon indicated the film maintains that same feel, but with a greater emphasis on horror.

Because of its unique style and relatively low production cost – around $40 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which is less than most Marvel or DC films – Clayface will be judged by different standards than typical superhero movies. This is a positive thing, as a wider range of approaches could help refresh the superhero genre and, hopefully, the movie lives up to the early excitement.

Clayface will be released on October 23rd, 2026.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/list/every-dcu-movie-tv-series-coming-in-2026/embed/#

Read More

2026-04-21 15:11