James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-chiefs of DCU, have recently shed light on the upcoming film "Clayface," confirming its status within the DCU canon and its R rating. Clayface, known for his shapeshifting abilities derived from his clay-like body, is a classic adversary of Batman. The character, first introduced as Basil Karlo in Detective Comics #40 back in 1940, has a rich history within the DC universe.

DC Studios announced last month that "Clayface" is slated for release on September 11, 2026. The decision to develop this film was influenced by the success of HBO's "The Penguin" series. The project is being helmed by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, who will write the screenplay, while Lynn Harris and "The Batman" director Matt Reeves are set to produce.

Confirmed DCU Projects

11 Images

During a DC Studios presentation, Gunn and Safran clarified the film's place within the DCU, distinguishing it from Matt Reeves' "The Batman Epic Crime Saga." "Clayface is totally DCU," Gunn affirmed. Safran added, "The only thing that's in Matt's world, his Crime Saga that he's telling, is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series, that's in that lane. So still under DC Studios, still under us. We have an incredible relationship with Matt, but those are the only things."

Gunn emphasized the importance of integrating Clayface into the DCU, stating, "It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It's an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world." He further explained that Clayface wouldn't fit within the more grounded narrative of Reeves' saga, as it ventures into the realm of super metahuman characters.

Safran announced that DC Studios is currently negotiating with James Watkins, known for "Speak No Evil," to direct "Clayface." With shooting scheduled to begin this summer, Safran described the film as "an incredible body horror film that reveals a compelling origin of a classic Batman villain." He praised the screenplay by Mike Flanagan, which led to the film's addition to the DCU slate.

Throughout the presentation, Safran referred to "Clayface" as "experimental," not a traditional superhero film, but rather an "indie style chiller." Gunn echoed this sentiment, describing the movie as "pure f\*\*\*ing horror, like, totally real," emphasizing its psychological and body horror elements. He confirmed that "Clayface" is definitely R-rated, expressing excitement about the project's potential, likening it to the type of horror films they would have been eager to produce years ago.