DC Studios has pulled back the curtain on Clayface, giving fans their most detailed look yet at the upcoming R-rated body horror film starring Tom Rhys Harries. Featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, the exclusive story dives into the film’s tragic take on one of Batman’s most iconic villains, while showcasing the psychological and physical transformation at the heart of the movie.
Rather than focusing on a traditional superhero story, Clayface follows Matt Hagen, an ambitious Gotham actor whose life spirals out of control after he’s disfigured by a powerful mob boss. Desperate to reclaim his career, Hagen turns to scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (played by Naomi Ackie), whose experimental serum transforms him into the shape-shifting creature known as Clayface. The film embraces full body horror while exploring themes of identity, obsession, and the price of fame.
According to Harries, the film is far more than a comic book adaptation. He describes Clayface as a deeply emotional character whose monstrous transformation reflects the internal collapse of a man watching everything he values disappear. Director James Watkins leans heavily into practical horror influences, creating a film that feels closer to classic psychological horror than a conventional superhero blockbuster.
Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) and Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) in ‘Clayface’. [credit: Parisa Taghizadeh/Warner Bros.]
The project began with a story by acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, who was originally attached to direct before scheduling conflicts prevented him from taking the helm. Screenwriter Hossein Amini later refined the script while preserving Flanagan’s tragic vision for the character, with producers James Gunn, Peter Safran, Matt Reeves, and Lynn Harris helping shape the final film.
The movie is set within the new DC Universe but tells a standalone Gotham story, featuring familiar elements of Batman’s world without requiring the Dark Knight himself to appear. The filmmakers have emphasized that the focus remains entirely on Matt Hagen’s descent into becoming Clayface, allowing the horror and emotional drama to take center stage.
Clayface is currently scheduled to hit theaters on October 23, 2026, positioning it as one of DC Studios’ most unique and experimental releases to date. With its R-rated approach, tragic character study, and heavy emphasis on practical horror, the film could offer a very different kind of comic book movie when it arrives this fall.
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