James Gunn Might Finally End Superhero Fatigue With This 2026 DC Movie

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DC Studios is hoping one of its 2026 films will help revitalize the superhero genre, which is currently facing challenges. Following the releases of Superman and Peacemaker this year, 2025 will bring Supergirl, Lanterns, and a horror-focused Clayface movie—a unique project starring a Batman villain—that will surprisingly come before a dedicated Batman film in the DCU. This push for new content comes as both Marvel and DC have seen lower box office numbers recently, falling short of the billion-dollar successes they experienced in the past, signaling a potential decline in audience interest.

Horror director Mike Flanagan has wanted to make a Clayface movie for years, expressing his interest as early as January 2021. He formally pitched the idea in early 2023, around the time rumors surfaced that Clayface might appear in The Batman: Part 2. While it’s unknown if that film’s director, Matt Reeves, ever seriously considered it, the project eventually became part of the newly announced DC Universe in December 2024.

I was really excited to hear from Peter Safran at DC Studios that Clayface is officially happening! Apparently, Mike Flanagan wrote an amazing script that completely reimagines the villain’s origins, and that’s what convinced them to move forward with the project. It sounds like it’s going to be a really compelling story.

Mike Flanagan, the director known for his horror work, won’t be directing his planned Clayface script. This is because of conflicts with his schedule, including the new Exorcist movie and other projects. Instead, the 2026 film will be directed by another horror director famous for films like Speak No Evil and The Woman in Black, and the Black Mirror episode, “Shut Up and Dance.”

Filming for the movie is currently underway in the U.K., with scenes being shot in Liverpool – the same city used for some of The Batman. After a long search, DC Studios has cast Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, also known as Clayface. Several well-known and up-and-coming actors were considered for the role, but ultimately didn’t get the part.

DC Studios is moving ahead with a Clayface project with a modest budget of approximately $40 million – much less than the $225 million reportedly spent on the Superman movie. Because of this lower cost, the horror-focused Clayface film doesn’t need to be a massive box office hit to become profitable.

Although the information might seem like just a history of Clayface’s origins, it actually explains why this uniquely disturbing villain – with its focus on body horror – is perfect for James Gunn’s new DC Universe and what the superhero genre is currently missing.

DC’s Clayface Has All the Pieces to End Superhero Fatigue

Superhero movies are starting to feel tiring for many viewers because Marvel and DC have released so much content. A lot of people are noticing that the stories, overall feel, and style of these films are becoming too similar. In recent years, both companies seem to be focusing more on releasing a lot of movies rather than making truly great ones, leading to more disappointing results.

As a huge cinema fan, I’m really encouraged by what James Gunn is doing over at DC. It seems like he’s determined to avoid one of the biggest problems the MCU has had – rushing into production without a solid story. He’s actually confirmed they won’t greenlight anything until the script is completely finished, which is fantastic! I’m hearing this is especially true with the Clayface project – they’re seriously considering a movie based on a pretty obscure character, but only because the script is apparently that good. It’s a refreshing approach, honestly.

James Gunn also told Variety that the upcoming Clayface project will be unique, differing significantly from other DC Universe initiatives. He emphasized that DC Studios won’t enforce a single, uniform style, and will instead allow creators to bring their individual vision to each project, ensuring variety and originality.

Gunn is moving quickly to establish this new direction by pairing writer/director Mike Flanagan with James Watkins for the project, Clayface. While they haven’t worked on superhero stories before, both are well-known for their success in the horror genre, which is exactly the tone Clayface is aiming for, utilizing characters from the DC universe.

By making the new Clayface movie with a relatively small budget of $40 million – one of the lowest for a Marvel or DC film – the studio hopes to guarantee a profit. This limited budget might also encourage innovative filmmaking and lead to a more original movie.

Horror films generally earn less at the box office than movies in other genres. However, recent successes like Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Conjuring: Last Rites have still brought in significant revenue – $260 million and $399 million, respectively, and those numbers are still growing. Because a genuinely scary movie set within a major superhero universe is new territory for Clayface, it’s hard to predict how much money it will make.

These lower-cost films aren’t just safer financially for the DCU, they also encourage more inventive storytelling and visual styles. Because the budget is around $40 million, relying heavily on computer-generated effects for Tom Rhys Harries’ villain won’t be practical, so filmmakers will need to focus on traditional, hands-on techniques.

James Gunn is building the DC Universe deliberately, concentrating on making each individual story strong rather than planning for one massive crossover event. By prioritizing quality, originality, and sensible budgets, the DCU – and projects like the upcoming Clayface – seem well-positioned to overcome the current trend of superhero movie burnout.

We’re hoping Clayface does well both with critics and at the box office, and that Hollywood takes the right message from its success. That message shouldn’t be to rely heavily on horror, but to prioritize original and creative ideas – something the new DC Universe seems to be doing, and that Marvel could learn from.

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2025-12-20 10:40