The first episode of HBO Max’s Welcome to Derry recently aired, and surprisingly included a hidden clue hinting at a potential connection to a future DC Universe project. This new series acts as a prequel to Stephen King’s famous novel It, which was previously adapted into a TV miniseries in 1990 and two theatrical films in 2017 and 2019. This connection, along with the earlier miniseries, links the story of a demonic clown to a similar villain from the DC Universe, who may appear in a future Batman movie.
A hidden detail in It: Welcome to Derry shows young Teddy Uris reading a 1966 issue of Detective Comics. This particular comic featured the first appearance of Clayface, a DC Comics villain, battling Batman on the cover. This detail could be more than just a fun nod to comics, as director Andy Muschietti, who directed the It films, is also directing a future Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, which may include Clayface as a character.
It: Welcome To Derry Teases Possible Batman Rumors
Clayface is no stranger to the DC Universe, having already appeared in the animated series Creature Commandos on HBO Max. Now, he’s getting his own movie – a horror film rated R, directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys-Harries as the character. James Gunn shared a hint about the film on Twitter, posting a cover image identical to the one used for It: Welcome to Derry. This connection seems intentional, as Gunn posted the image on the same day the Creature Commandos series included it as a hidden reference.
Pennywise and Clayface share a common trait: both villains can shapeshift, disguising themselves to deceive and conceal their true selves. This might be why director Andy Muschietti included a nod to Clayface in the movie. However, that’s where the similarities end. James Gunn has explained that his version of Clayface is a sympathetic, tragic character, while Pennywise is simply a force of pure evil.
Interestingly, the very first appearance of Clayface as Matt Hagen involved a fight with Batman and Robin. Director Andy Muschietti, who included a Clayface reference in his It series, is now working on a Batman and Robin movie, and that’s got fans wondering if Clayface might appear. While there’s been a lot of speculation about Clayface being a villain in The Brave and the Bold, it’s currently just a rumor – the movie hasn’t even started casting its Batman yet.
Interestingly, there’s a connection to the upcoming Clayface movie, scheduled for release on September 11, 2026. It’s being written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Fans of Stephen King will know Flanagan as the director of Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, and he recently finished filming a Carrie miniseries for Prime Video. It’s possible the recent reference was simply an inside joke or Easter egg between two directors who have both worked on King adaptations.
New episodes of It: Welcome to Derry are released every Sunday on HBO Max. And you can see Clayface in theaters from the DCU starting September 11, 2026.
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2025-10-27 22:10