Getty Image/Warner Bros.
DC Studios is officially moving forward with a standalone film about the core Batman villain Clayface. The script for the project is being penned by acclaimed writer/director/producer Mike Flanagan, known for his works on a bevy of Netflix series such as The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Mike Flanagan is also an experienced film director, helming projects such as Hush, Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, and the upcoming The Life of Chuck, which is earning rave reviews. Flanagan’s experience in the horror genre makes him a perfect fit for Clayface, as the film will likely lean into tragic body horror.
At this time, the project does not have a director — Flanagan’s next directorial effort will be a reboot of The Exorcist — and has yet to cast its lead role. According to Variety, “plot details are scarce, but filming is expected to begin early next year.”
“Clayface, one of the earliest Batman antagonists, has passed through several iterations since he was introduced in 1940, as a washed-up actor who turns to crime wearing the claylike mask of a character he once played. The character’s shapeshifting abilities were first introduced in 1961, and he’s been portrayed in many live-action and animated Batman adaptations.” [via Variety]
While the initial reporting from Variety positions the greenlighting of Clayface coming in the wake of The Penguin — which is certainly true — the critical and commercial success of The Substance can also not be understated, as it served as a proof of concept in terms of audiences being tolerant of that brand of body horror.
we have The Substance to thank for getting this over the line not even kidding https://t.co/k96ReuLESt
— Eric Italiano (@eric_ital) December 12, 2024
In addition to the reported standalone film, there have also been rumors that Clayface is set to feature in Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II, which is set to release in October 2026. Although it’s entirely speculation at this point, rumors suggest Reeves would utilize the Matt Hagen version of the character, who is the second incarnation of Clayface following Basil Karlo, whose origin story includes being an actor.
The character has been featured plenty of times in animated Batman projects, most recently being voiced by Alan Tudyk in the MAX series Harley Quinn. That version, however, is far more comedic than the likely tragic figure we’ll see in Flanagan’s film.