Clayface arrives later this 12 months, and it seems like James Gunn has made good on his phrase that the movie “shouldn’t be a ‘hybrid superhero horror movie,’ it’s a horror movie.” Our first take a look at the film did not reveal an entire lot. We see a bloody, disfigured man (Tom Rhys Harries) wrapped in bandages, intercut with flashes of him being experimented on, him being chased, him seemingly killing somebody, and his face actually melting — all set to a creepy cowl of The Flaming Lips tune “Do You Understand??” If not for the DC Studios brand and some nods to Gotham Metropolis, Clayface seems extra like a straight-up horror movie like Collectively or The Substance than the newest entry within the DC Universe.
Consequently, the teaser has brought on some confusion about whether or not it is a DC Universe film in any respect, and which model of Clayface we’re right here — particularly since a really totally different depiction of the Batman villain appeared within the DCU collection Creature Commandos. In the event you’re confused, don’t be concerned, we’re right here to assist.
Is Clayface a part of the DCU or is it a The Batman spinoff?
Clayface started as an concept from horror director Mike Flanagan for a horror/thriller taking heavy inspiration from the Batman: The Animated Sequence two-parter “Feat of Clay.” Flanagan had stated this publicly, and later pitched the concept to the powers-that-be operating the DCEU (the DC movies that started with Zack Snyder’s Man of Metal), although it was not picked up. Later, as soon as James Gunn and Peter Safran grew to become co-chairs of DC Studios, Flanagan pitched the concept once more and so they favored it. On the time, nevertheless, it was assumed the film can be part of Matt Reeves’ standalone universe established in The Batman, which had been reported to be increasing with spinoffs centered on Batman’s rogues gallery, like The Penguin collection.
When the movie was introduced by Selection in Dec. 2024, the report didn’t clarify what DC universe it match into, although it did point out that Reeves was producing the movie, which led everybody to imagine it was a part of The Batman-verse. Just about instantly, nevertheless, James Gunn has been attempting to clarify that “Clayface is within the DCU,” which means the identical universe because the 2025 Superman movie.
Is that this the identical Clayface from Creature Commandos?
Regardless of Gunn’s insistence, additional confusion has been brought on by the truth that, round that very same time of Dec. 2024, the animated collection Creature Commandos debuted on HBO Max and several other episodes in its first season characteristic Clayface. That is complicated not solely due to the DCU timeline, however as a result of DC comics has featured a number of totally different variations of Clayface through the years. Contemplating how totally different the 2 characters look, might or not it’s that these are two completely unrelated characters each known as Clayface?
Due to Gunn’s vigilant social media presence, we additionally obtained readability on this when he confirmed that the Clayface in Creature Commandos is, certainly, the identical one in Clayface. He later stated that Clayface takes place at first else within the DCU timeline, which incorporates Superman and Creature Commandos. So it is sensible that Rhys Harries’ character would possibly ultimately evolve from a daily man into the mountain of mud we noticed in Creature Commandos.
Nonetheless, I’m positive loads of folks might be confused concerning the the place and when of Clayface when it debuts in October, principally as a result of it has been fairly rattling complicated. Hopefully, issues might be clearer with future DCU releases, however with ever-increasing rumors that Gunn could depart DC as soon as Paramount takes over, I’d as an alternative anticipate far more confusion.
Clayface releases in theaters Oct. 23, 2026.
