Writer, Release Date & Everything We Know

DC Studios has officially greenlit Clayface and confirmed several details about the newest DC Universe project, including a writer and release date. DC Studios’ decision to develop a solo Clayface project is the latest example of how the studio intends to spotlight its most underutilized characters. As Superman launches the rebooted cinematic franchise with its flagship character, confirmed projects that spotlight lesser-known characters like Clayface, Booster Gold, and The Authority demonstrate DC Studios’ intent to venture into unique directions that the DCEU had previously shied away from.

Still, a solo Clayface project feels like a particularly bold step for the cinematic franchise. Clayface is best known as one of Batman’s foremost villains, though his notoriety hardly measures up to the likes of Joker, whose most recent solo movie suffered a particularly controversial reception. On the other hand, the Penguin’s recent spinoff series has been met with critical acclaim, helping to prove that there is an appetite for projects starring Batman’s undeniably compelling rogues’ gallery.

DC’s Clayface Movie Is Confirmed

James Gunn Confirmed That Clayface Has Been Greenlit

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn recently clarified that no DCU project, even those included in his unveiling of the DCU, is considered to be “in production” until DC Studios officially greenlights development. DC Studios’ Paradise Lost series, for example, is yet to be considered in production despite being announced as part of the DCU’s intended release slate in January 2023. This is not the case for Clayface, as James Gunn took to X to confirm that the movie has been greenlit with Mike Flanagan taking the lead on its story and script.

Unlike recent DC Elseworlds projects like Joker, The Batman, and The Penguin, Gunn confirmed that Clayface will be a part of the official DC Universe canon. This means that the project will likely directly connect to the DCU’s depiction of Batman, who is expected to debut in The Brave and the Bold, which has yet to receive a release date. This also suggests that Clayface‘s story might precede The Brave and the Bold, given Gunn announced its intended release date with his announcement on social media.

Clayface Movie Release Date

Clayface Is Slated For Release In 2026

Custom image by Andy Behbakht

Clayface is now one of a handful of DCU projects to receive a confirmed release date despite not being among Gunn’s initial announcements. Following Gunn’s social media announcement, Warner Bros. confirmed that Clayface has a scheduled release date of September 11th, 2026. This places it just a few months after the intended release date for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is slated for release on June 26, 2026​​​. It also precedes Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II release date of October 2, 2026, by a few weeks.

Confirmation of Clayface‘s release date came alongside the announcement that Dynamic Duo is scheduled for June 30, 2028.

It is still unclear where DC Studios intends to debut its version of Batman in the DC Universe. Story details for The Brave and the Bold confirmed that it will spotlight the Bat Family with Damian Wayne’s Robin suggesting that Bruce Wayne may be older than the one seen in The Batman – Part II. Still, it may be that Clayface is releasing in the same year as Matt Reeves’ sequel to help distance The Brave and the Bold from the Elseworlds franchise.

Clayface Movie’s Director Search Is Underway

Some Fans Are Suggesting That Mike Flanagan Should Also Direct The Movie

Custom Image by Grant Hermanns

While Gunn confirmed that Mike Flanagan will write the movie, Clayface has yet to be assigned a director. This was confirmed by Brandon Davis on X, who received information from Peter Safran following a Q&A about Superman. He also clarified that filming for Clayface would commence “early next year,” which would be in line with a fall 2026 release. Davis confirmed that Clayface will not be “campy,” and will instead resemble DC’s version of The Fly.

Flanagan’s experience with horror movies has therefore led some to suggest that he should also take on the director role. His directing experience includes Absentia and Gerald’s Game, which he also wrote and produced, proving that he has the wherewithal to potentially do the same for Clayface. Other renowned horror directors like Sam Raimi have also been floated as potential candidates by fans, though DC Studios has so far given no clue as to which director it is eyeing for the DCU’s horror project.

Clayface Movie Cast: Who Could Play The DC Character

Alan Tudyk Voices The Character In Creature Commandos

Clayface is one of the most outlandish villains in Batman’s rogues’ gallery, typically appearing as a grotesque, hulking figure composed of a clay-like substance that he uses to morph into different guises. The fact that the character appears in a comic-accurate guise in Creature Commandos suggests that he will maintain his grotesque appearance in live-action as the animated series is DCU canon. With that in mind, an actor proficient in motion capture or voice acting may be at the forefront of DC Studios’ potential candidates for the live-action role.

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Alan Tudyk, one of the most sought-after voice actors in Hollywood, voices Clayface in Creature Commandos. Needless to say, this makes him a prime candidate to continue portraying the villain in live-action, though this is far from a foregone conclusion. Tudyk also voices Doctor Phosphorous and Will Magnus in the animated series, which makes it less likely that he’ll go on to portray all of these characters in live-action.

Furthermore, Deadline reported that Daniel Craig will star in a live-action Sgt. Rock movie. Should this be a DCU production, then the fact that Sgt. Rock has already appeared in Creature Commandos, voiced by Maury Sterling, sets a precedent that voice actors will not necessarily portray the same characters in live-action. Then again, the fact that Frank Grillo and Viola Davis are portraying Rick Flag Sr. and Amanda Waller, respectively, in both Creature Commandos and live-action hints that the door is at least ajar for Tudyk to take on the live-action Clayface.

Clayface Movie Story Details

Clayface Has Been Likened To David Cronenberg’s The Fly

While no story details have been confirmed, Brandon Davis’ suggestion that Clayface will be DC’s version of The Fly offers significant insight. David Cronenberg’s The Fly is one of the most definitive examples of the body horror genre, starring Jeff Goldblum as a scientist who slowly suffers a grotesque transformation into a human-fly hybrid creature. It’s easy to see the parallels between this and Clayface’s origins and characterization, but it will be interesting to see how this DCU installment will fly in the face of what otherwise promises to be a colorful and relatively lighthearted franchise.

If Clayface is released as an out-and-out horror movie, it shows how DC Studios will not shy away from exploring new genres within its cinematic franchise.

If Clayface leans into the horror genre while other DCU projects embody the action/sci-fi themes typically associated with superhero movies, it could be a sign of what’s to come in the future of the DCU. Whereas the MCU has drawn flak for sticking to a tried-and-tested formula, most fans celebrate its attempts at something new like Werewolf by Night. If Clayface is released as an out-and-out horror movie, it shows how DC Studios will not shy away from exploring new genres within its cinematic franchise.

Clayface

Clayface is a feature film centered around the shapeshifting Batman villain. The movie, described as a horror, thriller, and tragedy, explores the darker dimensions of this iconic character within the DC Universe.

Release Date

September 11, 2026

Upcoming DC Movie Releases

Sources: X/James Gunn, Brandon Davis & Deadline

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