As the upcoming R-rated Batman horror movie gets ready for production, James Gunn explains why the DC Universe needs the film. One of the surprise additions to the DCU slate is Clayface, which was initially not part of Chapter 1: “Gods and Monsters” until DC Studios got the pitch from Mike Flanagan.

While the DCU’s Batman reboot is still in the works, fans will be getting to meet one of the Dark Knight’s most famous villains before Bruce Wayne shows up in the franchise. Set to be an R-rated horror film, Clayface will star Tom Rhys Harries as the тιтular DC foe.

During a new CBS Mornings interview, Gunn elaborated more on how the R-rated Clayface film stands out from other upcoming DCU releases and how DC Studios isn’t running a “company style” format on all their respective projects. For Gunn, it’s imperative that the audience gets something unique from each movie or TV show, as he shared the following:

James Gunn: We’ve got Clayface, which is a totally different thing. Although it’s in the same universe, it’s a complete horror film. That’s one of the things we want to do – there’s not a company style. It’s not like every movie is going to be like Superman. The artists – the directors and the writers – each one will bring their own sense to it… That’s what we want to bring to the films because we don’t want people to get bored. We want to invigorate people.

Based on a script from Flanagan, Clayface will be directed by Speak No Evil’s James Watkins, and is set to begin principal pH๏τography this fall. As of right now, Harries is the only announced Clayface cast member, with supporting roles yet to be added.

What James Gunn’s Clayface Comments Mean

Gunn’s explanation about Clayface and other DCU releases, is one of the many reasons why the franchise is already off to a solid start, even if the film got added later on. While having a connected universe is important, that shouldn’t mean that every film and show that comes out of the DCU has to maintain the same tone.

As the Clayface movie is reportedly set to follow a struggling B-list actor who strives to remain relevant in Hollywood by injecting himself with a substance that transforms him into the тιтular DC villain, it tackles tones and genres that a Superman film, for example, arguably couldn’t do. Gunn’s comments also showcase how the DCU wants to be able to add new aspects to the ever-growing comic book movie genre.

Our Take On James Gunn’s Clayface Comments