The release date for Warner Bros.’s upcoming DCU movie, Clayface, has been announced.
Clayface, which is directed by James Watkins, has been pushed back from September 11, 2026, to October 23, 2026. The supervillain film will star Tom Rhys Harries (Clayface/Matt Hagen), Naomi Ackie (Dr. Caitlin Bates), Max Minghella (John), David Dencik (undisclosed), and Eddie Marsan (undisclosed).
The movie was written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Several faces that are synonymous with DC and Batman, such as Matt Reeves, James Gunn, Lynn Harris, and Peter Safran, will serve as executive producers.
Whether intentional or not, Warner Bros.’s decision to move Clayface’s release date to the Halloween season is a smart move. The upcoming film is reportedly going to have a much darker and horror-like theme than DC’s previous projects. Throw in the fact that Watkins has directed several iconic horror and thriller titles, such as The Woman in Black, Speak No Evil, and Black Mirror, and the timing is all the more perfect.
Clayface’s plot points are still mostly shrouded in mystery. However, the vague description that was provided by the studio revealed that the movie follows the mysterious, shape-shifting titular villain, who is made of a clay-like substance and stalks Gotham City.
Throughout the long history of Batman and DC Comics, there have been several iterations of Clayface, meaning there are several different alter-egos linked to the villain. Basil Karlo (Golden Age/Modern) was the original Clayface, an actor who wore a clay mask and went on a murder spree. Matt Hagen (Silver Age), an actor who became disfigured after an accident and was transformed when a substance was forced down his throat. Preston Payne, a scientist who used blood samples from Hagen to cure a disease, ultimately suffered the same fate. Cassius Payne, Preston and Sondra Fuller’s (Lady Clay) child.
The upcoming film will follow the Silver Age’s version of the villain. Hagen is widely considered one of the most popular iterations of the character, at least in the mainstream media. This is likely due to his appearance in the 90s’ Batman: The Animated Series. However, Karlo, the original, arguably, remains the most prominent in the comic book community.
Clayface will premiere in theaters on October 23, 2026.
- Release Date
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September 11, 2026
- Director
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James Watkins