Clayface: key information
- Releasing in late October
- Will be an R-rated body horror
- First trailer unveiled in April
- Tom Harries will play the titular character
- Other cast members confirmed
- Unclear if Batman will make an appearance
- Story synopsis revealed
- No word on what DCU projects it might set up
Clayface will bring DC Studios' 2026 line-up to an end. Indeed, the DC Universe (DCU) movie, which will take shape in theaters worldwide on October 23, will be the last project we see from the comic book giant this year.
It sounds like it'll help to get the fledgling cinematic franchise back on track after Supergirl bombed at the box office, too. If you're excited to see the shapeshifting Batman villain in his first-ever standalone flick, then, you'll want to read on to learn more about its first teaser, confirmed cast, and story specifics. Hop to it, then!
Clayface release date
#ClayfaceMovie only in theaters October 23. pic.twitter.com/CwgZFYQSXKApril 22, 2026
Clayface will make its theatrical debut on October 23. It had been due to premiere on September 11 but, as confirmed by DCU co-chief James Gunn, it's now set to land in a cinema near you in time for Halloween.
According to reliable leaker Cryptic4KQual, it'll clock in at one hour and 50 minutes, too, although it's unclear if that's its final runtime, or the length of its current cut that was reportedly screen-tested in mid-June.
Clayface trailer
DC Studios surprised us all with Clayface's "super freaky" first trailer in late April — and fans were certainly happy with what little it actually teased about its plot (more on this later).
With San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 right around the corner — at the time of this article's latest update, anyway — I'd be amazed if attendees aren't treated to another look at the DCU Chapter One movie. Hopefully, an official trailer won't be too far behind from a public release standpoint, either.
Clayface confirmed cast
Possible spoilers follow for Clayface.
Here's the confirmed cast for Clayface. so far, including — where applicable — their characters': identities
- Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen/Clayface
- Naomi Ackie as TBC
- David Dencik as TBC
- Max Minghella as TBC
- Eddie Marsan as TBC
- Nancy Carroll as TBC
- Joshua James as TBC
Harries, who some might recognize from the 2024 Doctor Who episode 'Dot and Bubble', is this movie's lead. Announcing his hiring last June, Gunn revealed he and Safran "were blown away" by Harries' audition for Clayface's title role.
As for which version of the character Harries is playing, that'll be Matt Hagen. First appearing in 'Detective Comics #298' in December 1961, Hagen is the second individual to assume the supervillain's name and physiology after Basil Karlo. The latter made his DC Comics debut in 'Detective Comics #40' in December 1940.
In the source material, Hagen is a treasure hunter who transforms into the monstrous shapeshifter after coming into contact with a pool of radioactive protoplasm. However, in the DCU, Hagen is an actor who'll reportedly undergo an experimental procedure and get turned into an individual made of clay.
Ackie, who'll play a scientist called Caitlin Bates (per The Hollywood Reporter (THR), could be behind Hagen's transmutation. THR has also claimed Minghella is playing a police detective named John, who becomes embroiled in an investigation involving Hagen.
Marsan was not only been seen shooting scenes, but also snapped sporting an identical set of clothes to those worn by Harries. Could he be one of Hagen's shapeshifting human disguises? Reliable scooper Apocalyptic Horseman has suggested Marsan is Hagen's manager, so the jury is still out on Marsan's mystery role. Equally, there's no word on who Dencik, Carroll, or James are playing.
Another character that fans would love to see, even if it's in a cameo capacity, is Batman. After all, Clayface is a member of The Caped Crusader's stacked rogues gallery, so this movie would be the perfect opportunity to officially reveal the DCU's iteration of The Dark Knight.
However, while the DCU's Batman has been teased in other projects, including episode 6 of Creature Commandos, last year's Superman movie, and episode 1 of Peacemaker season 2, an actor hasn't been picked to play Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter ego. Unless Batman only appears in silhouette form, which he did in Creature Commandos, he's unlikely to be involved.
Clayface story synopsis and speculation
Potential spoilers follow for Clayface.
Here's the official plot brief: "Clayface unravels one man’s horrifying descent from rising Hollywood star to revenge-filled monster in a story that explores the loss of one’s identity and humanity, corrosive love, and the dark underbelly of scientific ambition."
Not much to go on then, but its cast and crew have given us some insights into what to expect from the third DCU flick.
For starters, Gunn revealed (via Threads) that Clayface is the first DCU movie that fans will want to watch from a chronological perspective. In short: its events precede what happens in 2025's Superman film. In a separate Threads post, Gunn also confirmed it'll be "very connected" to other DCU productions, but also works as a standalone tale if this is the only DC Universe project that people watch.
Speaking to Gizmodo in December 2024, Gunn said Clayface was never on the agenda, but the screenplay from horror auteur Mike Flanagan was so good that the R-rated/18+ film was quickly put into production. Per THR's Heat Vision newsletter, the body horror, which fellow DCU overseer Peter Safran has described as DC's take on The Fly (per Brandon Davis), has a reportedly modest $45 million budget, too.
Inspiration-wise, Flanagan told comicbook.com that this flick takes its cues from 'Feat of Clay', a two-part fan-favorite story involving the titular villain in the beloved program Batman: The Animated Series. The Hagen version appears in this two-parter, which is likely why Hagen, rather than Karlo, was chosen as its protagonist
It's unclear if the Karlo version is the one who appeared in season 1 of Creature Commandos, the adult animated HBO Max show that kickstarted the DCU, or if that's Hagen as well. If it's the former, there'll be two Clayfaces running around the DCU. If it's the latter, it's possible Clayface may serve as a prequel to Harries' supervillain origins and, like Superman, also predate Creature Commandos.
Anyway, it doesn't sound like this film will directly adapt the story told in 'Feat of Clay'. In that double-header, Hagen is severely injured in a car crash and, after being offered an experimental serum by a nefarious businessman, Hagen is able to transform into anyone he desires.
Per THR, this film will position Hagen as the victim of a vicious gang attack that leaves him disfigured . Deadline also suggests Hagen will be more of a sympathetic character than his comic book counterpart, so Clayface might be more of a Greek tragedy than a straight-up villain piece.
Clayface's back must hurt so bad from carrying so much DCU lore. https://t.co/guqOet6I2H pic.twitter.com/MG2tIyKTqiSeptember 11, 2025
Lastly, as the above X/Twitter post indicates, it'll be full of references and call-backs to other characters who operate in Gotham City, and include famous city locations like Club Vesuvius. A nightclub owned by mobster Johnny Sabatino, this venue could play host to a major set-piece in the film, especially if Sabatino is the man responsible for physically maiming Hagen.
It'll be interesting to see if these other comic book references are mere Easter eggs, or if we'll actually meet any of the individuals they're teasing, such as The Joker, the Grayson family, The Penguin, Black Canary, Black Mask, and Zatanna, the last of those of whom is a Club Vesuvius regular.
Will Clayface set up other DCU movies and TV shows?
We don't know. However, given the aforementioned references, Clayface could lay the foundations for any of the above characters and/or Batman to be introduced in the DCU.
Right now, Lanterns, Creature Commandos season 2, and Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow are the only other DCU projects that have entered full production and/or will be released by the end of 2027. Unless Clayface shows up in one or more of them, we've no idea what effect it'll have on future films and TV series.
For now, read up on everything we know about Lanterns, get the scoop on Creature Commandos season 2 and the full lowdown on Man of Tomorrow.
