‘Clayface’ trailer teases DC Studios’ first proper horror movie

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The DC universe is going full on body horror.

DC Studios shared the first trailer for their upcoming “Clayface” movie on Wednesday, offering fans a look at how the notorious, shape-shifting Batman villain came to be.

Set to a haunting version of the Flaming Lips’ song “Do You Realize??,” the trailer quickly shows images of rising Hollywood star Matt Hagen (played by Tom Rhys Harries) both before and after a brutal attack. The camera slowly focuses on his injured, bandaged face and troubled eyes as he recovers in a hospital bed.

The video shows Hagen with a remarkably flexible face, almost like clay, which he seems to have gotten through a scientific process.

The upcoming “Clayface” storyline, as described by DC, will show Hagen becoming a monster driven by revenge. It will delve into themes of losing oneself, the damaging effects of obsession, and the dangerous side of pursuing scientific goals.

Scheduled for release on October 23rd, “Clayface” will be the third DC film released under the new leadership of James Gunn and Peter Safran, who are rebooting the DC superhero universe. Other upcoming movies include “Supergirl,” coming to theaters on June 26th, and a sequel to Gunn’s “Superman,” currently titled “Man of Tomorrow,” planned for 2027.

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Who is Clayface?

As a huge Batman fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Clayface. It’s a villain identity that’s actually been taken on by several different characters in the comics, but the core idea is always the same: they can change their appearance because their bodies are made of something like clay. The very first Clayface was created way back in 1940 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane – he was originally an actor who’d fallen on hard times and turned to crime. It’s a classic, slightly tragic backstory, and a really cool concept!

Matt Hagen was the second person to become Clayface, debuting in a 1960s issue of “Detective Comics.” He was the first Clayface with the ability to change his shape, a power he got after finding a strange, radioactive substance.

Other versions of Clayface have been introduced in various media since.

Who is in ‘Clayface’?

The new movie features Tom Rhys Harries as Hagen, a Hollywood actor on the rise. Naomi Ackie also stars, playing a scientist who helps Hagen after he’s disfigured, as shown in the trailer. David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, and Joshua James round out the cast.

Who are the ‘Clayface’ filmmakers?

James Watkins, the director behind horror movies like the 2024 film “Speak No Evil,” is directing “Clayface.” The screenplay is by Mike Flanagan, known for horror series like “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Doctor Sleep,” and Hossein Amini, who wrote “The Snowman.”

Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran produced the project. Michael E. Uslan, Rafi Crohn, Paul Ritchie, Chantal Nong Vo, and Lars P. Winther served as executive producers.

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2026-04-23 03:36