(Left) Elizabeth Henstridge and Tom Rhys Harries in ‘Suspicion’, now streaming on Apple TV+. (Proper) DC Comics’ Clayface. Photograph: DC Comics.
Preview:
- Tom Rhys Harries has received the lead within the Clayface film.
- James Watkins is within the director’s chair.
- The film is ready for a September 2026 launch date.
With the present cinematic incarnation of DC Studios, run by James Gunn and Peter Safran launching with Gunn’s tackle the Man of Metal, one other growing film from the corporate took a optimistic step ahead by narrowing in on its lead.
‘Clayface’, which can highlight the shape-shifting Batman villain, has a face eventually. Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries has seen off the likes of ’28 Years Later’s Jack O’Connell, ‘The Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’Tom Blyth, ‘The White Lotus’Leo Woodall and ‘1917’s George MacKay to attain the title position.
A Hollywood horror story centering on a B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to maintain himself related, solely to search out out that he can reshape his face… Learn the Plot
James Watkins, who final directed ‘Communicate No Evil’, is overseeing the film, which has seen script work from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.
It’s the subsequent film that may head into manufacturing for the studio, with a 2026 launch date deliberate.
Associated Article: ‘Communicate No Evil’ Director James Watkins to Direct ‘Clayface’ for DC Studios and Warner Bros.
Who’s Clayface precisely?
DC Comics’ Clayface. Photograph: DC Comics.
When you’re not updated on the muddy man-monster, right here’s your primary briefing on Clayface as a personality.
Created by Invoice Finger and Bob Kane, the unique Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40, printed in June 1940, as a B-list actor who started a lifetime of crime utilizing the id of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror movie.
Kane acknowledged that the character was partially impressed by the 1925 Lon Chaney model of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’; and that his identify was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.
The character solely appeared twice within the Golden Age however was the inspiration for the shape-shifting Silver Age model. And, as is common in comedian books, the identify has been used for a lot of related takes on the character.
Within the late Nineteen Fifties, Batman started dealing with a sequence of science fiction-inspired foes, together with Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter given huge shapeshifting powers and resiliency by publicity to a pool of radioactive protoplasm, who grew to become the second Clayface. He retained the title for the subsequent couple of many years of comedian e book historical past.
Within the late Seventies, Preston Payne grew to become the third Clayface. A scientist affected by hyperpituitarism, Preston Payne used the second Clayface’s blood to create a remedy for his situation, however as an alternative grew to become a clay-like creature that wanted to move his new situation on to others to outlive.
Sondra Fuller of Strike Drive Kobra used the terrorist group’s know-how to turn into the fourth Clayface, also referred to as Girl Clay. She fashioned the Mud Pack with the unique and third Clayfaces. Throughout this period, the unique Clayface used the DNA of Payne and Fuller to turn into the Final Clayface (speak about bragging!)
Someday after the Mud Pack occasion, Payne and Fuller had a son named Cassius “Clay” Payne, who, because the fifth Clayface, additionally had metahuman shapeshifting powers.
That’s only a number of the character’s alternates, who’ve appeared through the years in numerous movies, sequence, animated works, video video games and different types of media.
Alan Tudyk voices Clayface within the animated sequence ‘Harley Quinn’ and ‘Creature Commandos.’ Ron Perlman beforehand voiced him in animated initiatives ‘Batman: The Animated Collection’ and ‘The New Batman Adventures.’ Brian McManamon performed the villain on ‘Gotham,’ whereas Lorraine Burroughs was Clayface on ‘Pennyworth.’
Gunn and Safran have beforehand mentioned that actors who play roles within the animated sphere for his or her DC Studios may also tackle the live-action model, however we don’t know if meaning Tudyk will return for the film.
As for the tone of the film, Deadline’s sources have heard that the Clayface film is rumored to be a horror-thriller-tragedy, with the lead protagonist not anticipated to be portrayed because the infamous villain he’s often seen as.
The place else have I seen Tom Rhys Harries?
(L to R) Kunal Nayyar and Tom Rhys-Harries in ‘Suspicion’, now streaming on Apple TV+.
Harries looks like a contemporary face, however he’s not likely a newcomer. The actor has been seen in films together with ‘The Gents’, ‘The Return,’ ‘Kandahar’ and the small display screen likes of ‘Physician Who’ and Apple TV+ sequence ‘Suspicion.’
What else is happening within the DC Studios film universe?
(L to R) Director James Gunn GUNN and David Corenswet on the set of DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Photos’ ‘Superman’, a Warner Bros. Photos launch. Photograph Credit score: Photograph by Jessica Miglio. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Leisure Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Gunn’s large re-launch of DC-based films kicks off subsequent month with the launch of the aforementioned ‘Superman,’ that includes David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Supes and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. It’ll be in theaters on July eleventh.
Batman, as performed by Robert Pattinson in Matt Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ is staying round (a sequel, regardless of delays, remains to be being scripted), however he’s as a part of the prolonged “Elseworlds” tales, which exist exterior of the DC continuity.
Gunn and Safran’s unique announcement additionally included point out that ‘Batman: The Courageous And The Daring’, was in growth, adapting Grant Morrison’s run comics run.
It options one more Bruce Wayne who tries to maintain his son, Damien Wayne, in line as Robin. It’s supposed to launch the “Bat-family” into the film universe, however has been hit with scripting points and delays.
On the confirmed large display screen entrance, ‘Supergirl: Lady of Tomorrow,’ opens in June 2026, starring Milly Alcock and directed by Craig Gillespie from a script by Ana Nogueira.
There may be additionally ‘Clayface’ — a horror movie concerning the titular Batman villain — which is presently set to launch in September 2026, and will probably be directed by James Watkins (‘The Lady in Black’) from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini however can be present process re-writes.
Lastly, now we have ‘Dynamic Duo’ — an animated characteristic about Batman’s Robin sidekicks Dick Grayson and Jason Todd — which is tentatively scheduled for June 2028.
Talking not too long ago with Rolling Stone, Gunn defined that he doesn’t need substandard films popping out of his new DC effort:
“We now have to deal with each mission as if we’re fortunate. We don’t have the mandate to have a certain quantity of flicks and TV exhibits yearly. So we’re going to place out all the pieces that we expect is of the best high quality. We’re clearly going to do some good issues and a few not-so-good issues, however hopefully on common all the pieces will probably be as high-quality as potential. Nothing goes earlier than there’s a screenplay that I personally am proud of.”
When will the Clayface film be in theaters?
With a director and star now aboard, and manufacturing plans for a UK shoot at Leavesden Studios in place, Warner Bros. and DC Studios are confirming a September eleventh, 2026 launch for this one.
(L to R) James McAvoy (as Dalton) and Director James Watkins on the set of ‘Communicate No Evil’.