The DCU’s Gotham City Map Reveals a Ton of Iconic Easter Eggs (but Is It Legit?)

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The DC Universe’s Batman won’t be appearing in movies for a few more years yet, but fans won’t have to wait too long to visit Gotham City as portrayed by the franchise. The upcoming film titled “Clayface,” which is now being produced, is scheduled for release in September 2026. From leaked set videos and photos, it appears that Gotham City serves as the main setting for this movie. While “Clayface” primarily follows the story of struggling actor Matt Hagen, viewers will be on the lookout for any hints suggesting connections to a larger shared universe. The most recent set images offer fans an excellent glimpse at a map of Gotham City’s transit system, offering insight into the latest cinematic interpretation of this famous location.

In the platform X, user JackkDoylee posted an image of a street map that appears to be influenced by the Gotham City Transit Authority map found on the Batman Wikia website. Although there are variations between the two maps, their resemblances are striking enough to question if they both originated from the same original source (or whether this similarity is merely coincidental). DC enthusiasts will recognize the locations listed at the bottom of the map, such as Arkham Asylum, Ace Chemical, the Iceberg Lounge, Blackgate Penitentiary, a sports facility for the Gotham Knights, numerous buildings associated with the Wayne empire, the Kane Estate, and the Kane Memorial Bridge – a tribute to Batman co-creator Bob Kane.

It’s intriguing that one location indicated on the map goes by the name “Crime Alley.” This choice appears quite unusual considering the primary purpose of an official transit map is to promote travel and tourism within the city. Here are some pictures for your reference: [pictures]

Gotham map. #Clayface

— Jack (@JackkDoylee) September 2, 2025

Is Clayface‘s Gotham City Map Legit?

In Batman lore, the location where Thomas and Martha Wayne were brutally killed – often referred to as Crime Alley – isn’t its official, city-approved title. It’s actually known as Park Row. The gritty history of crime in this area earned it the unofficial nickname “Crime Alley.” It might seem peculiar for the Gotham City Transit Authority to label it on their maps, considering most folks would likely avoid a spot named Crime Alley due to concerns about muggings or even more serious harm. Interestingly, the Clayface map doesn’t designate a separate area as Park Row, leading many to believe that Park Row and Crime Alley are one and the same.

The question arises as to whether the Gotham map shown in the film is intended to be part of the actual DC Universe storyline, or if it’s simply a temporary addition. Many comic book movies are filled with Easter eggs that reference the original materials, and _Clayface_ will likely be no exception. Once the movie becomes available for home viewing, fans will undoubtedly scrutinize every detail to catch anything they may have missed during the initial theater release. Given its brief appearance on screen as set decoration in the background, a map of Gotham City seems like something that could easily fit into this category.

James Gunn, one of the co-heads at DC Studios, was well aware of fans’ excitement for hidden references like this, so it’s plausible that the filmmakers deliberately included the map in the movie. However, it could also be that they thought the map might not be clear in the film, or perhaps they simply wanted to add a touch of realism to the setting. The detail on the map is so extensive, though, that it seems more likely than just a decorative element; instead, it presents a broad, detailed look at Gotham within the DC Universe, offering viewers an overall layout perspective.

In the DC Universe, it’s plausible that Park Row was officially renamed to “Crime Alley.” Comic book adaptations often alter original content, giving unique twists to established themes. The reasons for renaming Park Row to Crime Alley remain unclear, but it will be intriguing to observe if the upcoming film, Clayface, touches upon this transformation in any way. City administrators might avoid highlighting a neighborhood as crime-ridden, yet the change could serve as a caution and dissuade people from visiting.

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2025-09-02 23:14