James Gunn: Clayface Movie Essential for DCU, Not Reeves' Batman Saga

DCU co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran have shed light on the upcoming film Clayface, confirming its place within the DCU and its R rating.

Clayface, known for his ability to transform his clay-like body into various forms, is a classic adversary of Batman. The character, first introduced as Basil Karlo in Detective Comics #40 in 1940, has a rich history in the DC Universe.

DC Studios announced last month that Clayface will hit theaters on September 11, 2026. The project was greenlit following the positive reception of HBO's The Penguin series. The film will be penned by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, with Lynn Harris and The Batman director Matt Reeves set to produce.

Confirmed DCU Projects

11 ImagesDuring a recent DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn and Safran discussed why Clayface fits into the broader DCU rather than Matt Reeves’ The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

“Clayface is totally DCU,” Gunn stated. “The only elements that belong to Matt's world, his Crime Saga, are the Batman Trilogy and the Penguin series. These remain within that narrative lane, yet still under DC Studios and our oversight. We maintain a fantastic relationship with Matt, but those projects are distinct,” Safran explained.

“It was crucial for Clayface to be part of the DCU. We're looking to explore the origin of this iconic Batman villain within our universe,” Gunn added.

He further noted that Clayface wouldn't have meshed well with the more grounded, non-super metahuman focus of Reeves’ saga.

Safran revealed that DC Studios is currently negotiating with Speak No Evil director James Watkins to helm Clayface, with filming expected to start this summer.

“This summer, we’ll begin shooting Clayface, a remarkable body horror film that delves into the origin of this classic Batman villain. Mike Flanagan's exceptional screenplay prompted us to add this to our slate,” Safran remarked.

“I think many of you know we're in talks with James Watkins to direct. Once the deal is finalized, we’ll move forward with casting and aim to shoot this summer. The film is scheduled for release in the fall of 2026. While Clayface may not be as well-known as The Penguin or The Joker, we believe his story is just as compelling and, in many ways, more terrifying,” he added.

Throughout the presentation, Safran described Clayface as “experimental” and not a traditional superhero film, but rather an “indie-style chiller.” Gunn characterized it as “pure f***ing horror,” emphasizing its psychological and body horror elements.

Gunn confirmed that Clayface is indeed rated R, expressing enthusiasm for the project. “When Peter and I first read the script, we were reminded of our days working on films like The Belko Experiment. If we had received a horror script like Clayface back then, we would have been thrilled to produce it. The fact that it's now part of the DCU is an incredible bonus,” Gunn concluded.