Things are happening over at DC Studios. Just a little over two years after James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as the new heads and chairmen of the newly-formed studio, their DC Universe is slowly beginning to come together. But, really, the slowest part about it all was the waiting for the projects to get made – because, honestly, once things kicked off, they haven’t really stopped.
Gunn and Safran have already confirmed which films will spotlight their first phase of the franchise (titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters) and it all starts with Superman. Well, technically, it has kicked off with animated series Creature Commandos but the live-action arm of the shared universe begins with the Man of Steel’s solo adventure in July 2025.
With the wheels in motion and the cogs beginning to turn, it looks like the DC Universe is gearing up for its global arrival. But before it does, the studio has some more surprises in store for fans.
Clayface is set to make his live-action movie debut in an upcoming solo movie that will bring the Batman villain’s tragic story to the big screen. Variety first reported the news, confirming that the film originated from a script written by horror veteran Mike Flanagan – who first pitched the idea to James Gunn and Peter Safran last year. The studio will search for a director to take the project on now due to Flanagan’s commitments to The Exorcist and Carrie.
Gunn himself officially confirmed the news the very next day, taking to social media to share that it would be set in his and Safran’s new DC Universe and that it would be released on September 11, 2026. The Hollywood Reporter subsequently revealed that the film would have a $40 million budget and that it would be a horror film designed to showcase the diversity of DC Studios’ slate. Flanagan is a strong choice to script such a film, especially as he is reportedly a fan of the Clayface episodes of Batman: The Animated Series.
This is the second big swing for DC Studios in recent months, as it was recently announced that a Sgt. Rock movie is in the works, with Daniel Craig set to star and Luca Guadagnino to direct. It’s unknown yet where both films will take place in the franchise and if they will serve as standalones, but there is no doubt that these titles represent how willing to take risks the studio is right out of the gate. And the response from fans has been strong for both titles, as both represent the chance for very non-traditional comic book stories in a landscape full of superhero stories.
Clayface made his DC Comics debut back in 1940 as Basil Karlo, a B-movie star who descended into a life of crime by using the identity of a villain he played in a horror film. The character took inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera, but Clayface’s origins got more tragic as the years went on, with various new characters becoming their own versions of Clayface.
He has also been a regular in multiple different Batman adaptations over the years, with the Batman: The Animated Series version undoubtedly the most well-known of the bunch. Matt Hagan, a former actor who loses everything when his body becomes living clay, seeks revenge before trying to cure himself in some very questionable ways. It’s a tragic tale that made Clayface one of the acclaimed show’s most beloved characters. It would also serve as a good foundation for the upcoming DC Universe movie.
Clayface arrives in movie theaters on September 11, 2026.
A classic Batman villain is set to headline his own solo movie as the DC Universe continues to showcase its willingness to take risks. Read More