The upcoming Clayface (2026) movie is grabbing attention not just for daring to spotlight one of DC's most underrated villains, but for the bizarrely bold tone DC Studios is betting on. With a lean budget, a body horror aesthetic, and Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role, this film is shaping up to be one of the most unexpected entries in DCU Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters.
With a modest $40 milion budget, don't expect Marvel-style fireworks. Instead, the film promises as intimate, disturbing dive into character horror, more arthouse nightmare than theme park ride.
Tom Rhys Harries and the promise of body horror
The first set photos reveal Tom Rhys Harries sporting a mask straight out of Phantom of the Opera. It's a chilling attempt to conceal the grotesque disfigurement of Matt Hagen, a washed up actor whose career nosedives after a brutal accident.
This isn't just a cosmetic detail. The mask is a visual metaphor for tragedy, decay, and the inevitable spiral of the protagonist's life. Shot in the UK, the production leans heavily on unsettling visuals to highlight Hagen's monstrous transformation.
The comic book roots behind Clayface
Clayface may usually play second fiddle in Batman's rogues' gallery, but DC's comics have gifted him some truly standout storylines. Three in particular appear to be hey influences Harries has even been spotted flipping through them during prep.
- Clayface: One Bad Day: A hauting exploration of Basil Karlo's attempt to rebuild his life in Los Angeles, only to collapse into murder and disguises to keep his career alive. It's psychological horror meets critique os artistic ego, with Batman offering his trademark pity for yet another tragic villain.
- Batman & Robin: Year One: Written by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, this story has Matt Hagen manipulated by Two-Face during a Gotham gang war. Desperate to return to "normal," Hagen accepts criminal gigs in exchange for promise of a cure. It's a moral tug-of-war tailor-made for a film adaptation.
- Batman Annual #11 (1987) - Mortal Clay: Alan Moore's take on Preston Payne offers another deformity. While unlikely to be a direct blueprint, it reinforces Clayface's core DNA: horror fused with heartbreak
All three highlight Clayface not just as a monster, but as a tragic figure doomed to a cycle of compassion and collapse, exactly the kind of emotional core the 2026 film seems eager to embrace.
The Batman in the DCU? Cue the conspiracy theories
Filming in Liverpool has sparked wild fan theories that Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) might secretly tie into the DCU. Why? Well, the reused filming locations, gothic architecture, and even police uniforms that suspiciously resemble Pattinson's Gotham PD
But let's be real: the explanation is way less juicy. Liverpool's gothic background is basically Gotham on a discount, and those NYPD-inspired police uniforms have been recycled countless Batman adaptations. Same vibes, different universes.
The Reeves connection doesn't help, though. With him attached as producer, fans naturally suspect crossover mischief. But James Gunn has been crystal clear: Reeves' Batman stays in his own continuity, while the DCU will get its own Dark Knight.
Could Hollywood pull a last-minute twist? Always possible. But so far, the Clayface set details point to coincidence, not conspiracy. Sorry, Reddit.
Clayface (2026) is shaping up to be one of DC Studios' riskiest bets: a tragic body-horror character study centered on a villain instrad os a caped crusader. The comic book influences suggest something psychological and raw, far from your typical spandex spectacle.
As for the eternal "Is The Batman in the DCU?" debate: the answer remains no. Separate universes, folks. But if Clayface delivers on its eerie, tragic promise, it could prove that villains aren't just side dishes in superhero cinema, they can be the whole damn meal.
Clayface is slated for a Sept. 11, 2026 release date.