DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran open up about the new Clayface movie and the direction of the DC Universe film. One of Batman’s most popular villains is getting his live-action debut in the DCU timeline as DC Studios is developing a Clayface solo film. As James Watkins is in talks to helm the DC horror film, production will start later this year as they are eying Clayface for a 2026 release date, with many waiting for details about the overall story.
ScreenRant recently participated in a new DC event with Safran and Gunn in attendance, where Clayface was one of the DCU projects that was brought up in the conversation. While the DC Studios co-CEOs stated that they are still in negotiations with Watkins, they are incredibly excited for the audience to see Clayface being added to the ever-growing horror genre, while also letting a different Batman villain get the spotlight. The duo also gave an update on when casting will start to happen for Clayface, while stating the following:
Peter Safran: This summer, cameras are going to roll on Clayface, an incredible body horror film that reveals the compelling origin of a classic Batman villain. This is another тιтle that we added to the slate on the strength of an exceptional screenplay by Mike Flanagan. I think some of you are probably aware that we’re in negotiations with James Watkins now to direct, and we will start casting this as soon as we have the director deal done. We’ll shoot this Summer, and it’s slated for a Fall 2026 release. Clayface may not be as widely known as the Penguin or the Joker, but we really feel that his story is equally resonant, compelling, and in many ways more terrifying than any of those.
James Gunn: One of the things Peter and I talked about when we first got the script is, if we were producing movies five years ago when we were doing The Belko Experiment and all of that stuff, and somebody had brought us this horror script called Clayface about this guy? We would have died to have produced this movie because it was just a really excellent body horror script. And the fact that it’s in the DCU is just a plus.
What Gunn And Safran’s Clayface Comments Mean
From Safran and Gunn’s updates about Clayface, it is clear that things are moving in the right direction for the DC movie. It makes sense that casting for the Clayface movie is still pending, as they want to make sure they have their director locked in for a deal so that they can be involved with tapping their lead star. With the many directions that Clayface has gone in the comics, it is very possible that he will be more than just a Batman foe in the DCU franchise.
Even though Clayface has had a lot of exposure through DC animation, a live-action film solely focused on him is a mᴀssive way to bring him into the eyes of the general audience. While Gunn and Safran mention that Clayface isn’t as big as Joker or Penguin, they are correct about the tragedy that comes with his backstory and why he ends up becoming the famous mud monster. Depending on who they cast for Clayface, this could become one of the most well-received and complex characters in the comic book film genre.
Our Take On Gunn And Safran’s Clayface Comments
While time will tell when there will be more Clayface updates, hearing Gunn and Safran’s enthusiasm for it makes the prospects of the film even more promising. If the Clayface film is handled correctly, this could help the comic book movie genre show how to do villain-led films correctly, in comparison to something like Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Once Watkins is fully signed on for Clayface, it will be interesting to see who they cast in the film, as well as what other characters will be around him.
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Superman
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July 11, 2025
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