Summary

The Clayface movie should add an unexpected horror twist to the DC Universe, exploring body horror and darker themes.
Flanagan's initial involvement sparks excitement, but script rewrites by Amini raise concerns about the project's direction.
DC releasing a Clayface film before establishing Batman feels premature, leading to doubts about the movie's necessity.

The Clayface movie looks messy behind the scenes, which may spell doom for a film that never needed to be made. James Gunn and Peter Safran have been shaking things up since they took creative control of DC's film and TV projects, kicking things off with a cartoon rife with lesser-known characters in Creature Commandos. However, numerous projects are coming, with Gunn behind July's Superman release, Peacemaker season 2 set for an August debut, and projects like Lanterns in active production.

When Gunn and Safran first started, they announced a slew of projects, many of which are yet to come, like the Supergirl movie that recently wrapped filming. However, the DC Universe threw fans for a loop when they later announced a Clayface movie. The film would follow one of Batman's most tragic and grotesque villains. Clayface began as Basil Karlo, a B-movie actor who went mad, injecting himself with experimental compounds that eventually allowed him to mold his body like clay. He makes for a distinctly different nemesis than many of the Caped Crusader's other foes, and it would mark Clayface's live-action debut, but there may be some trouble behind the scenes that could jeopardize the project.

Clayface as depicted in Creature Commandos (2024)

Mike Flanagan's Clayface Movie Should Take a Cue From This 2024 Horror Hit

Mike Flanagan's Clayface could be great if it takes some lessons from one of 2024's best horror movies.

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By Conor McShane

Several facets surrounding Clayface make the film interesting, as it was never part of their planned slate of DC outings. It was pitched to Gunn and Safran by writer and director Mike Flanagan. Flanagan has gained notoriety in recent years for his outstanding work in the horror genre, including directing Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House. While DC may not have been looking for a Clayface movie, his pitch was good enough that they chose to give it a speedy green light that saw Flanagan pen a script. The news excited horror and Batman fans alike, as Flanagan has proven himself competent at delivering scares and complex characters, making his outing in the DC Universe something that could continue to infuse the world with fresh takes on old ideas.

What really sets Clayface apart from other planned projects is the proposed tone, which is said to be a horror thriller. Clayface has always seemed like an unlikely character to adapt to live-action, as he could be challenging to translate due to his appearance, which would require copious amounts of visual and practical effects that would ultimately decide whether audiences buy it. However, the character presents the opportunity to explore body horror and darker themes by focusing on a sympathetic villain who loses himself to a monstrous new form. Clayface may not be the first villain Batman fans would like to see get a movie in Gunn's DC Universe, but the prospect of a comic book-based horror film combines two of the most financially lucrative film genres, priming it for success.

Why The Clayface Production Already Spells Trouble For DC Studios And The DC Universe At Large

Clayface as a kaiju rampaging through Gotham City

Flanagan's involvement in the Clayface movie was its most exciting prospect, but now it seems his first draft is being rewritten. According to The Wrap, Drive writer Hossein Amini is penning a new draft of the script, which may spell trouble. Flanagan is a lauded writer in his own right who has shown an aptitude for the genre, and with his name known among horror fans, many were looking forward to his terrifying take on Clayface. However, with a new writer reworking his idea, the project may not have the intended impactful thrills. Furthermore, Flanagan's track record with screenplays tends to hold higher regard than Amini's, who wrote Snow White and the Huntsman, the Keanu Reeves flop 47 Ronin, and Michael Fassbender's disastrous Snowman.

James Watkins, who directed the American remake of Speak No Evil, is at the helm for Clayface, and while he's a proven horror director, other factors may hinder production. Matt Reeves is also serving as a producer on the movie, and rumors have also stated that Clayface may appear in his The Batman 2, which means it may be the same character connected to his sequel or a different version meant for Gunn's wider DCU. However, the DC Universe has already had trouble defining itself with its broad reach and Elseworld films, making further clutter unwarranted.

Nobody Was Out Here Asking For Clayface, And The DCU Hasn't Even Established Batman Yet

Clayface boss fight in Batman: Arkham City

One of the biggest issues with the Clayface movie is that it would be released in the second year of the DC Universe, making the film an early entry into the world when they haven't even established Batman. In what feels like a misguided step out of Sony's Spider-Man Universe that saw villains leading films with little to no connection to Spider-Man, DC is committing significantly to one of Batman's villains before the Caped Crusader. The Batman is currently considered an Elseworlds film, making it separate from Gunn's DCU and leaving that Batman role open. A The Brave and the Bold movie is in the works, with It and Flash director Andy Muschietti said to be directing, but that movie's release is also planned for after the Clayface movie.

While Clayface began with promise, seeing a horror master like Mike Flanagan take on a character that inspired him, the current early stages of the DCU and script rewrites have quickly sapped it of momentum in many fans' minds. Ultimately, nobody was even asking for a movie solely focused on Clayface, even with him being a fan-favorite Batman villain, so while the project goes through a creative overhaul, whether the film even needs to continue comes into question. Gunn and Safran's DC Universe is still in its infancy, making the future malleable and potentially bright. However, they have a lot to prove, and Superman will play a significant role in garnering clout when it drops in July. If it proves successful, the Clayface movie, which is set to begin production in October, will likely keep moving forward for better or worse.

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