Despite it releasing before he took over as DC Studios co-CEO, James Gunn has confirmed that his movie The Suicide Squad is DCU canon. So, unsurprisingly, there have been a few questions about how this works, especially as Superman is mentioned in the 2021 movie.

During Gunn's new The Suicide Squad: Is it Canon? Podcast, co-host and Peacemaker's John Economos actor Steve Agee read out a question from a fan asking if The Suicide Squad really is canon to the DCU, did Bloodsport really shoot Superman. DC fans will remember that the 2021 movie finds Bloodsport sitting in jail due to shooting and taking down the hero with a Kryptonite bullet.

Gunn answered, "There's a couple of things potentially that get in the way of being canon. One is time." Superman is set in 2025, four whole years after The Suicide Squad was released and presumably takes place. However, at the start of the first DCU Chapter One movie, we learn that Supermna has only been in commission for three years. To fix that, Gunn says he would have to push The Suicide Squad up to 2023 or 2024. " I don't think that's the biggest deal in the world," added the director.

The other issue is that at the start of Superman, which Gunn says is "most definitively canon," we learn that he has just been defeated for the very first time by Lex Luthor Ultraman. So, if that is Superman's first defeat, what happened with Bloodsport? "I don't necessarily think that flying around, not only perhaps taking your flying dog out for a walk or whatever he was doing and being taken down with a Kryptonite bullet and going to the hospital is a battle," explains Gunn. "It's not necessarily defeat. He was just shot."

However, it sounds as though Gunn is growing tired of dealing with dates. "People are always asking me about timelines. I think we have to chill out a little with the timelines," stated the DC boss. "It's not possible to make things perfectly line up."

The next DCU movie is Man of Tomorrow, arriving July 9, 2027. For more, keep up with all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows on the way.

After setting the record straight that his 2021 movie The Suicide Squad is DCU canon, James Gunn says Margot Robbie could return as Harley Quinn, that is, if she wants to.

"Margot Robbie is one of my favorite actors to work with… I don't know where Margot's head is with all of this. But also, Harley is a character I'm almost certainly going to use in the DCU, and if Margot wants to play her, then I'll bend over backwards to explain that in the world," said Gunn on his The Suicide Squad: Is it Canon? podcast. "But if she doesn't, then I can go with somebody else where I don't have to be attached to Harley in [The Suicide Squad]."

Robbie first suited up as DC villain Harley Quinn in David Ayer's 2016 movie Suicide Squad, and then led her own movie in 202's Birds of Prey, before returning in 2021 for Gunn's sequel, The Suicide Squad. It wouldn't be too surprising to see Robbie return, as her The Suicide Squad co-star and Peacemaker actor John Cena has already been introduced to the DCU, as Peacemaker season 2 is canon and takes place after the events of Superman.

Even though Gunn became the co-CEO of DC Studios the year after The Suicide Squad hit screens, he is keen to include the project in his new world. "I think that The Suicide Squad is within the canon of the DCU. It's decided," said Gunn earlier on the Podcast. "I'd say we have one small asterisk, which is: what exactly is the future of Harley Quinn?"

The issue with adding Quinn is that Gunn would also have to find a new Joker, since the Batman villain is to blame for Quinn's creation. "I think Harley is one of the most difficult things in this to justify as being canon in the DCU. Harley's relationship to the Joker, specifically," said Gunn. "We haven't established the Joker yet in the DCU at all. We've established Batman. We see him in Creature and Commandos for a glimpse. But we don't know if Joker exists yet, and obviously, Joker is a part of Harley's past."

However, the DCU has yet to find its live-action Bat, though Gunn says Batman will be cast soon, ahead of the heroes' first DCU Chapter One movie, The Brave and the Bold. Who knows, perhaps the Joker or even Harley will make an appearance then.

The next DCU movie is Man of Tomorrow, arriving July 9, 2027. For more, keep up with all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows on the way.

James Gunn has set out to clear up the DCU's canon once again – but it's only given us more questions.

In his new podcast, The Suicide Squad: Is it Canon?, Gunn came to the conclusion that the film is mostly canon, and is in fact the DCU's first canon film.

"I think that The Suicide Squad is within the canon of the DCU. It's decided. I'd say we have one small asterisk, which is what exactly is the future of Harley Quinn? I want to be given a little leeway with this by the fans, because I'm not sure exactly how that's going to manifest itself.

"But other than that, I think that we can pretty much say the entire movie is canon," he continued. "I don't think there's a problem. Now, maybe somebody's going to come to me on Threads – and I accept the challenges in trying to answer them – with something that can't be canon within this movie, and that's okay, because we're going to make mistakes, we're going to make mistakes in this movie, we're going to make mistakes in other movies. But for the most part, I think that it actually fits much more easily into canon than Peacemaker season 1 does. So, I think that we can actually say that yes, not only is The Suicide Squad canon, but it's the first canon film in the DCU, and that everybody should go watch it right now on HBO Max."

That raises a lot of questions – The Suicide Squad takes place in the old DCEU, not the new DCU, and Gunn has previously said that Blue Beetle is the first DCU character and Superman is the first DCU film. Plus, there's a chance that Harley Quinn might change if Margot Robbie doesn't return in the future.

"I love [Robbie] as Harley, I don't know if she wants to play Harley again. She may be over that," Gunn admitted candidly elsewhere in the podcast, before explaining that he would very likely use the character again, and, "if Margot wants to play her, I'll bend over backwards to explain that in the world. But if she doesn't, right, then I might go with somebody else, where I don't have to be attached to what happens to Harley in this movie. That's really the situation."

Still, though, the movie otherwise does slot into canon fairly neatly, as it introduces us to Peacemaker and involves the death of Rick Flag Jr., which sets up Rick Flag Sr.'s storyline in Peacemaker season 2 and beyond.

In the same podcast, Gunn also revealed that the DCU Batman will be cast soon, and he'll be around the same age as Superman.

The next DCU movie is Man of Tomorrow, which arrives on July 9, 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

James Gunn has teased that the DCU Batman is closer than we think.

While we just got a DCU movie set in Gotham City, Clayface, Batman was conspicuously absent, and there has been no word on who might be in the running to play the Caped Crusader.

"It won't be too long before we're casting Batman, who isn't cast yet, by the way," Gunn shared on his The Suicide Squad 'Is It Canon?' Podcast, explaining that previously casting someone for a different role would not rule them out of any future roles. "All the people thinking he's gonna show up in this or that, it's all bullshit. But when we do cast the DCU Batman, which isn't very far away, if I gave somebody a day role in Suicide Squad that's gonna be the best Batman, I'm not gonna rule him out from that. I want to get everybody into account.

"One of the things that excites me about Batman is being able to pick a Batman who's actually the best actor for that role," he continued. "Supermans have always been chosen based on who the best actor for that role is, and for some reason Batmans are always chosen as movie stars."

When asked if he takes age into account, Gunn explained: "Definitely, that's a huge thing. People are always looking for little hints about casting of Batman. Roughly, Batman and Superman are around the same age. I don't think that they're drastically different ages. They're future best pals, contemporaries."

Superman is in his early 30s in the 2025 movie, so we can expect a Batman in the same age bracket. Originally, the DCU's Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, was announced as a Damian Wayne movie – in the comics, Damian is Bruce Wayne's biological son, and he arrives later in Bruce's crime-fighting career. Whether the film has moved away from the Damian storyline or it will simply involve a younger Bruce remains to be seen.

The next DCU movie is Man of Tomorrow, which releases in theaters on July 9, 2027. While you wait for the DCU Batman to arrive, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

James Gunn is going to clear up more DCU canon questions.

Since the DCU reboot, which replaced the now-defunct DCEU, there have been some lingering questions about what is and isn't canon. That's because, while the DCEU projects no longer count, some of them – like Peacemaker and The Suicide Squad – have aspects that carried over into the new DCU.

"To celebrate DC Super-Villain month, we've decided to lay down the law on whether The Suicide Squad is canon in the DCU - and discuss other behind-the-scenes fun facts along the way in a new Official The Suicide Squad 'Is It Canon?' Podcast," Gunn shared on social media, complete with a trailer for the podcast.

To celebrate DC Super-Villain month, we've decided to lay down the law on whether The Suicide Squad is canon in the DCU - and discuss other behind-the-scenes fun facts along the way in a new Official The Suicide Squad "Is It Canon?" Podcast.

— @jamesgunn.bsky.social (@jamesgunn.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-10-29T15:26:25.825Z

Gunn previously released a similar podcast for Peacemaker, aptly titled Peacemaker: The Official Podcast with James Gunn.

Gunn has said before that he wants to reassess The Suicide Squad and Blue Beetle (the first DCU character) to decide what is and isn't canon.

"I've been thinking about this a lot in regards to The Suicide Squad & Blue Beetle and I've been meaning to rewatch both with an eye towards that knowing what I know now almost three years into the DCU (with a couple more years of scripts being actively filmed or created)," he said. "Maybe after MoT [Man of Tomorrow] Jenn [Jennifer Holland] & Steve [Agee] & I can get together for a special couple podcasts to discuss. What do you guys think is potentially or definitely NOT canon from TSS & BB?"

We'll only have to wait a little while longer to find out what is canon from The Suicide Squad – the one-episode podcast debuts on October 30.

Until then, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

One Clayface fan has come up with a theory that might help explain Matt Hagen's downfall.

Spoilers for the film follow, so turn back now if you're not up to date on the new DCU movie!

In the film, Matt Hagen is given experimental treatment by Dr. Caitlyn Corr after he is horrifically disfigured by a gangster. The treatment heals his wounds, but also gives him grotesque shapeshifting powers.

But, Caitlyn developed the treatment by first using her own DNA. As Matt descends further into villainy as he embarks on a brutal revenge quest, he also gets more and more obsessed with Caitlyn. For a full breakdown, read our Clayface ending explained.

"I have a wild theory that it's the nanites who are attracted to her, not Matt himself as Caitlyn have been experimenting on the nanites by regularly using her DNA on the nanites before Matt came to her," speculates one fan.

Another agrees: "I actually believe this theory, and if it's true, it makes Caitlyn's role in Matt's downfall WAY darker than people realize. She had been experimenting with the nanites using her own DNA before Matt ever entered the picture. So what if the nanites were already conditioned to recognize her as their original template, and Matt's obsession with her was the technology influencing him rather than genuine love?

"Think about it: every time his body healed, reshaped itself, or reacted to her, we assumed it was Matt making those choices. But what if the nanites were driving his attachment all along? What if Matt never truly fell in love with Caitlyn, but was biologically programmed to crave her? That would mean Caitlyn didn’t just create Clayface. She might have accidentally created a monster that could never stop coming back to her."

It's certainly a creepy theory – though it does seem like it's Matt's own flaws that lead to his downfall rather than an issue with his DNA, since he chooses bloody revenge over starting a fresh life.

Clayface is in theaters now. For more, check out our Clayface review or our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

James Gunn has addressed the DCU's 10 year plan – and why some projects are more standalone than others.

While some of the DCU's projects, like Superman and Supergirl, are very clearly connected to each other, others, like Clayface, are far more standalone.

On Threads, responding to a now-deleted post, Gunn wrote: "No. You can look at my quotes from January '23 when we started and I said we were going to do exactly what we're doing. I said some stories would be standalone like the Guardians movies were (which is what Clayface is) and some stories would have part of a larger narrative structure, which is what the Superman Saga is. All that said, each piece of the larger story should work on its own with or without having to see everything else."

He added: "ALSO, some things get conflated here. The often cited '8 to 10 year roadmap' originally pitched wasn't only story points (although that was a part of it), but also the plan for DC as a whole, including focusing on diamond characters (Superman, Batman, WW) as well as smaller characters we could turn into diamonds (Krypto, John Stewart, Peacemaker), how we would foster filmmaker freedom & allow for multiple tones & ratings, the influences of Star Wars & George RR Martin, and so much more.

"It's exciting seeing things START to come together and all that makes me even more excited for what we have in store for everyone in Man of Tomorrow."

Man of Tomorrow is the next movie for the DCU, and it functions as a quasi-sequel to Superman. The massive cast includes the return of David Corenswet's Supes, Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, and Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, along with Milly Alcock's Supergirl, Aaron Pierre's John Stewart, Lars Eidinger's Brainiac, and Adria Arjona's mystery character – who everyone thinks is Wonder Woman.

That film arrives on July 9. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

Matthew Lillard says he isn't playing a traditional DC comic book character in Man of Tomorrow, or even one at all.

"It's a very James Gunn moment. So, I wouldn't worry too much about finding him in the comics," Lillard told The Direct, when asked whether or not he'd be playing a DC comic book character.

Funny enough, Lillard's character in Daredevil: Born Again, the mysterious Mr. Charles, was also absent from Marvel Comics and was indeed created specifically for Lillard by showrunner Dario Scardapane.

Gunn is also no stranger to creating new characters, namely Peacemaker's Leota Adebayo, who is Amanda Waller's daughter, and Lex Luthor's scary alien best friend (and prison chauffeur) Mister Handsome, who we met in Superman.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of character Lillard plays, as he seemed just a touch disappointed that his MCU character was just a normie without any superpowers.

Written and directed by Gunn, the upcoming movie sees archenemies Superman (David Corenswet) and Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) team up to defeat an even greater threat, Brainiac. The cast includes Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner aka the Green Lantern, Edi Gathegi as Mister Terrific, Milly Alcock's Supergirl, and Xolo Mariduena's Blue Beetle. Adria Arjona also recently shared her training regimen for the film, where she could very well be making her debut as Wonder Woman...

Man of Tomorrow flies into theaters on July 9, 2027. For more, check out our list of all the upcoming DC movies.

Clayface director James Watkins says the best scene in the new DCU horror movie wasn't in Mike Flanagan's original script.

Warning: Mild spoilers for Clayface below!

"It came to me quite late in the process. I really wanted to beef up Matt’s journey upstairs [to confront mobster Markos Szabo]," Watkins told The Hollywood Reporter. "I kept talking about capturing the feeling of Robin Hood movies, or a film like El Cid, where they storm the castle. Before the hero can reach the keep and rescue Maid Marian or whoever, they have to fight their way through the outer defenses."

Towards the end of the movie, Matt heads to Szabo's club, Vesuvius, with the intention of taking down the mobster once and for all. While he's there, however, he decides to have some fun and terrorize Szabo's girlfriend Mia Torres by shapeshifting back and forth between Szabo's right-hand man Sal and himself, before taking on the rest of Szabo's goons in various forms (one of which happens to be Aaron Paul for some reason).

Continued Watkins: "I also wanted to show Matt discovering and experiencing the dark glee that comes with his powers. He’s been on quite a tough ride to that point, and I wanted to give the audience permission to enjoy the payback."

Clayface currently sits at a 75% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a near-perfect 94% audience score. The film is already proving to be much more profitable than Supergirl, having pulled in $24 million at the domestic box office in its opening weekend, bringing in a total gross of $43 million worldwide against a budget of $44 million (per Box Office Mojo).

Clayface is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows. If you have already seen the movie, jump to our guides on the Clayface ending explained and Clayface Easter eggs.

DC Studios boss James Gunn has heaped praise on Clayface lead Tom Rhys Harries on the 65th anniversary of Matt Hagen's comic book debut.

"It’s one thing to watch someone become a monster, but another to feel everything that person is losing along the way. Tom Rhys Harries gives an astounding performance in Clayface, bringing an emotional weight to the horror in a way that feels incredibly personal," Gunn wrote on Twitter. "Happy anniversary to Matt Hagen, who debuted in DETECTIVE COMICS #298."

While the concept of Clayface precedes Matt Hagen's first appearance by decades, that iteration of the shapeshifting Batman villain has become one of the in vogue choices ever since Batman: The Animated Series' two-part 'Feat of Clay' back in 1992 helped popularize the character.

Since then, multiple versions of Clayface have graced our screens, including the hammy actor Basil Karlo (voiced by Alan Tudyk) in Harley Quinn. The character – again, Karlo's version – also popped up in Batman: Arkham City,

But the DCU is going all-in on Hagen, with the character first appearing in animated series Creature Commandos before Rhys Harries made his gloopy mark on the troubled figure in live action earlier this month.

Yet, there's been no mention of Batman, despite the Caped Crusader supposedly roaming around Gotham during the events of Clayface.

Speaking to that absence, director James Watkins told GamesRadar+, "It's a city of a very many million people, and this is Matt Hagen's story. I didn't want to get too cute. I just wanted to be honest to the story."

Clayface has also proved to be a modest success at the box office, recouping its budget in its first weekend.

For a spoiler-filled breakdown of the finale, we have a Clayface ending guide. There's also a wider look at how Clayface fits on the DCU timeline.

The Batman 2 star Robert Pattinson says Steven Soderbergh stepping in to finish filming on the DC sequel is "incredibly generous", as production resumes on the beleaguered superhero sequel.

Filming on The Batman Part II was temporarily paused earlier this month when writer-director Matt Reeves left the set to deal with an ongoing family matter. Shortly after, it was announced that director Steven Soderbergh would step in to finish principal photography, working with Reeves to fulfill his vision for the movie.

When GamesRadar+ caught up with Pattinson to discuss his latest release, Primetime, this weekend, the Bruce Wayne star discussed resuming production on The Batman Part II with Soderbergh behind the camera, and revealed when he's due back on set to complete principal photography.

"I am so happy he's come on to help Matt," Pattinson earnestly explains when asked how he feels about the award-winning Traffic, Erin Brockovich and Ocean's director stepping in for Reeves. "It's incredibly generous of him – and he's doing it in the loveliest way. It's completely selfless.

"I think Matt had put so much work into the script, and we're almost done," Pattinson continues. "So for someone to come in and say, 'I just want to help Matt do it; I want to do it in conjunction with him and just get it to the edit.' And to have someone who's as talented as Steven doing it is great."

When does filming start up again? "I think they're in production already," Pattinson says. "And I'm starting in a couple of days."

In a statement, DC Studios noted it was Soderbergh who approached Reeves, offering to complete production on the movie with DC Studios' full support. Reeves, it seems, will still handle post-production duties on the movie in collaboration with Soderbergh, clarifying on social media that he is "not leaving" The Batman Part II.

As for Pattinson, the star of Primetime, The Odyssey and The Drama is having something of a banner year after appearing in three well-received movies already in 2026, and he still has highly anticipated sci-fi sequel Dune 3 to come – something he describes as a "miracle": "To get these movies in the first place is awesome," the star tells GamesRadar+. "And for them all to be working, I'm like, 'How is this happening?'"

The Batman Part II releases in theaters on February 18, 2028. Primetime is currently playing in US theaters and arrives on digital from November 3. In the UK, Primetime releases in cinemas on October 30, with select preview screenings from October 28. For more, here's our guide to the most exciting upcoming movies still to come in 2026.

Despite earning mixed reviews from critics, Clayface has managed to make back its production budget in just a few days.

Clayface debuted to $24 million in the US over its opening weekend, pulling in $43 million worldwide in total, as per Box Office Mojo. That means that the DCU's first horror movie, which cost $35 million to make, has already made its budget back.

This means that Clayface is on track to become the third most profitable DC movie this decade, after The Batman and Superman, as found by Global Box Office. Released in 2022, The Batman earned over $772.7 million in total globally, which was almost four times its estimated production cost of $200 million. The DCU Chapter One's first movie, Superman, grossed $618.7 million, just shy of 3 times its $225 million budget.

Clayface is already besting the DCU's last live-action movie, Supergirl, which grossed $126.4 million in total but cost between an estimated $170 and $200 million.

This is good news indeed for the James Watkins-directed horror film, which opened to mixed but mostly positive reviews. The movie sits at a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a near-perfect 94% audience score. In our 3 out of 5-star Clayface review, we call the new addition "DC Studios' biggest experiment to date. Yet, Tom Rhys Harries' outstanding Matt Hagen and squeamish sequences can't completely cover up a safe body horror that carries the scars of a so-so script and surface-level dissection of its gloopy subject matter."

Based on the beloved Batman villain, Clayface follows budding Hollywood star Matt Hagen, whose career is cut short when a local mobster leave shim horribly disfigured. Desperate to get his old life back, Hagen seeks out an experimental medical trial which heals his scars, but turns him into a gloopy monster hellbent on revenge.

Clayface is out in theatres now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows. If you have already seen the movie, jump to our guides on the Clayface ending explained and Clayface Easter eggs.

James Gunn has responded to a common cinematic universe criticism – that standalone movies are only "meaningful" if they lead to a big crossover event movie.

In replying to a Threads user who themselves disagreed with the idea that the DCU isn't building towards anything, Gunn wrote, "DCU is just an alternate universe; we can enter at any location or time and tell THAT story. I dislike the idea that individual stories aren't meaningful unless they lead to something else."

To make his point, Gunn pointed to another household pop culture name in a galaxy far, far away as proof of concept

"People not understanding this is strange to me, because Star Wars has essentially been doing this for 50 years across movies, shows, games and books, admittedly without the tonal variety," Gunn stated.

Of course, the DCU isn't without its setup. 2027's Man of Tomorrow is a Superman sequel in all but name, with connective tissue coming in from the likes of Supergirl, Lanterns and DCEU's Blue Beetle (try not to think about the canon implications of that one just yet). But the DC Studios co-CEO is adamant that audiences should be watching each project on its own merit, not because it's sprinkling breadcrumbs for whatever is next – or the next Big Bad in DCU Chapter One.

"But that doesn't mean those other stories only exist to set up what's happening there," Gunn said. "I would love people to be seeing Clayface because it's a great, fun horror movie unto itself, not because of where else Clayface will show up three movies from now."

So far, the DCU has prided itself on its individuality. Where Marvel Studios typically converges its stories for an Avengers movie, DC has gone the opposite way – platforming animated adventures, cosmic capers, True Detective-style mysteries, and body horrors all within its first 18 months. Or, as I wrote in my Clayface review, the DCU is "quickly learning that its biggest strength, like Clayface himself, is in its malleability."

Clayface has proved a fair hit with audiences on opening weekend, effectively recouping its budget with a $43 million worldwide gross.

If you've already seen Matt Hagen's murderous revenge tale, check in on our spoiler-filled breakdown with the Clayface ending.

For all things DCU, we have a look ahead to upcoming DC movies that are currently in the works.

The latest DCU movie, Clayface, might be very standalone – but it still features some interesting connections to the wider DC universe.

Below, we've rounded up the 17 biggest Clayface Easter eggs and DC references in the film, including some references to Batman. There's quite a lot tucked away in the background of the film, so it's well worth watching with your eyes peeled.

Of course, that means there are Clayface spoilers ahead, so turn back now if you're not up to date. If you've seen the film, then head below for everything we spotted. And, for even more, read our spoiler-free Clayface review.

Clayface Easter eggs and DC references

The Narrows

Both Matt Hagen and Dr. Caitlyn are from the Narrows, an area of Gotham City you might recognize from the comics, or Batman Begins. It's one of the most dangerous areas of Gotham.

Imperial Pictures

At the start of the film, Matt is making a movie for a studio that looks to be very much based on Warner Bros. (it even has that iconic water tower). The studio name is Imperial Pictures, which hails from 'Feat of Clay,' the two-part Batman: The Animated Series episode that introduces Matt Hagen as a struggling actor and is a huge inspiration for the movie. In the Animated Series, Imperial Pictures also shares a lot in common with Warner Bros.

Wayne Community Center

The place where Matt mentors student actors is named the Wayne Community Center. We didn't spot this one ourselves, but it's revealed in the film's production notes. This, of course, is a reference to Batman – AKA Bruce Wayne.

Tim Burton's Batman

It's (almost) impossible to spot in the film, but the production notes reveal that two props from Tim Burton's 1989 Batman are reused in Clayface. One is a coffee table used by Jack Nicholson's Joker, seen in Matt's penthouse apartment, and the other is a chair used when Matt undergoes a consultation for plastic surgery, which comes from the set where Nicholson's Joker also had surgery.

DA's office

When Matt takes Markos Szabo to court after his horrific disfigurement, we hear a reference to the DA's office. Gotham's most famous District Attorney is one Harvey Dent, AKA Two-Face.

Ace Chemicals

It's not explicitly labeled as Ace Chemicals, but a building with burning chimneys can be seen through Matt's penthouse window after his disfigurement as he watches the Oscars. This bears a strong resemblance to the chemical plant, which is where the Joker fell into a vat of acid and was permanently disfigured in The Killing Joke graphic novel (adopted as his de facto origin), in a thematic parallel to Matt's own fate.

One Bad Day

The actor who wins the Oscar Matt was nominated for triumphs for a role in a film titled One Bad Day. This is a concept the Joker refers to in The Killing Joke to explain his philosophy that a single bad day could drive anyone to madness – which is what happened to him after he was disfigured by the Ace Chemicals acid. Matt has his own bad day when he is attacked by Szabo and his friends betray him.

The GCPD

The Gotham City Police Department figures in the storyline via Caitlyn's fiancé, John Borrelli, who is an honest cop in the notoriously corrupt police force, much like Jim Gordon.

Missing posters

The GCPD and the streets of Gotham are plastered with missing posters. While none seem to feature significant names, they are a reminder that Gotham is a hotbed of criminal activity, and they could be setting up a future storyline.

Coast City

DC's answer to LA, Coast City, is where Matt Hagen works as a rising star actor. In the comics, it's home to Green Lantern Hal Jordan and is the site of the Edwards Air Force Base, where Hal was stationed.

Amusement Mile

Caitlyn walks past a large, neon sign advertising Amusement Mile, which is emblazoned with the grinning visage of a clown. Amusement Mile is a fairground strip in the comics, and, as the clown suggests, a haunt of the Joker's and Harley Quinn's.

Building names

The film's production notes identify two Easter eggs related to building names: the Moldoff Building is named after Sheldon Moldoff, a Golden Age era Batman artist, and Kane's Candy Store, named after Batman's co-creator Bob Kane.

Jitters Coffee

Jitters Coffee, a brand seen in Superman, can be seen again in Clayface. "I went to see James Gunn's Superman in the cinema. I really loved it, and I knew nothing that I was going to be involved in this movie," Max Minghella, who plays John Borrelli, told us. "And then, quite quickly after I saw that film in the cinema, I was on set holding a Jitters Coffee cup, which is featured in Superman. And I do think it was one of the most surreal moments of my life, because I was like, 'I just went to see this film, and there was this prop in the movie, and now I'm holding that prop,' but it felt like it was yesterday. And I thought, 'Wow, the magic of movies.' I never get over it. It's just a kid in a candy shop, it's so fun."

Club Vesuvius

The nightclub Matt attacks at the end of the film borrows its name from Club Vesuvius in the comics, which is owned by Johnny Sabatino.

Gotham Gazette

A Gotham Gazette newspaper can be spotted in the film. In the comics, it counts Vicki Vale – frequent love interest of Bruce Wayne's – among its employees.

Gotham Knights and Gotham Goliaths

Background actors wearing Gotham Knights and Gotham Goliaths merchandise are seen in the film. These are the names of sports teams found in the pages of DC comics.

Special thanks

Batman creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger are credited with special thanks, along with Batman: The Animated Series masterminds Bruce Timm and Paul Dini, and Marv Wolfman, who wrote part 1 of the 'Feat of Clay' episodes which introduced Matt Hagen as a disfigured actor in the show.

Clayface is in theaters now. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

Clayface is a grisly horror that also functions as a revenge tragedy, as Matt Hagen – a gruesomely disfigured up-and-coming Hollywood actor – embarks on a quest to right the wrongs against him.

It's impossible not to empathize with Tom Rhys Harries's Matt, who is brutally attacked by a mobster after a bad decision on a night out, undergoes experimental surgery to repair his face, and begins developing shapeshifting powers. But, as his behavior gets more and more extreme in pursuit of revenge, you might find yourself questioning your morals.

"It started off with the script, working with the script to really understand Matt, where he came from, how he came from nowhere and got to that situation," Clayface director James Watkins tells GamesRadar+ of balancing empathy and horror. "So when it's all pulled away, we're on his side. And then it's casting, finding the right actor, and when Tom came in, I thought, 'This could be the guy,' because it's just someone that you can be rooting for all the way through that journey, and still have sympathy towards them. That's not easy. A lot of actors don't have that. So, finding that, and then the dark glee as he discovers his powers.

"He's been wronged, and then he gets this moment, and we're with him on the journey, and he's discovering his powers, and he's doing all this crazy stuff," Watkins continues. "I really want us to be on his side, and [have] permission to enjoy the moment. And actually really push that, and then whether we can wink and nod at the audience in a couple of ways there and really enjoy that, so that when he carries on even further, you're so invested with him. And then you're like, 'Oh,' and where that takes you with the character, which I think becomes an interesting dance between the audience and the movie."

Making the audience complicit is also an idea Harries shares. "He doesn't know where it's going. That's a fairly basic thing to say, but it's true," he explains. "He's always trying. He's not wanting to be bad. He's just increasingly giving in to more carnal, primal urges that he has, because he feels like he has no other place to go or to turn to. Hopefully, it kind of co-opts the audience to a point where you question where your ethical line is."

During Matt's revenge quest, he also gets closer and closer to Dr. Caityln Corr, the doctor who performed his experimental treatment and inadvertently gave him his powers. But, the complication is Caitlyn is already engaged to GCPD cop John Borrelli, played by Max Minghella – and the darker Matt becomes, the more unnerved Caitlyn is.

"That was a big pull for me while playing Caitlyn," Naomi Ackie tells us. "We had talked, and actually, the same with [the relationship between Caitlyn and John] as well. James was really keen on making it feel super grounded and believable. In some movies – and I love them all, I love movies – but sometimes they'll jump between meeting and then being like, 'I love you!' It's really quick, and you're like, 'How did they get there? And how much time has passed?'

"We were really trying to make this relationship, the standing relationship, and then this potential new one, feel well timed and not too heavy, too quick, but show that they are getting closer, and in that way that you kind of want them to, but don't want them to," she explains. "So, we were keeping our eye on it and trying to make it as grounded as possible, so that people really care about these characters, so that when the bad things happen – which we know will happen because it's a body horror – that people feel super invested."

Naturally, that means Caitlyn and John have a more complicated dynamic, though John is never villainized. "There was an element that we were trying to find, which I think we managed, which was this balance between a couple who were deeply in love, or loved each other, but were in a stage where they had fallen into a certain pattern of being," says Ackie. "The way Max plays him is so likable that you're never in a situation where you're like, 'F that guy!' There are some films where they'll make the boyfriend or girlfriend unlikable, so you're like, 'Oh, definitely you have to leave!' It wasn't that, either. It was way more complicated than that."

Creating the dynamic between John and Caitlyn was something Minghella found simple, too. "Honestly, it was quite easy because Naomi's so personable and brilliant as an actor, and so she does basically all the heavy lifting, and then you just sort of sit there and react to what she's doing," he says. "I think that Tom and Naomi are both just such empathetic actors. You like them so much."

Clayface is in theaters this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Clayface reviews are in, and they're mostly positive, with the horror movie netting a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than Supergirl.

The DC body horror sits at a score of 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. Supergirl, meanwhile, sits at a rotten 52% – despite being the DCU's second movie overall, it's the franchise's first rotten rated movie.

"Have I told you what a pleasure it's been working with director James Watkins on this project? If so, I'll say it again!" DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn wrote on Twitter, sharing The Hollywood Reporter's review of the movie.

Our own Clayface review awards the film 3 stars, and our verdict reads: "On paper, Clayface is DC Studios' biggest experiment to date. Yet, Tom Rhys Harries' outstanding Matt Hagen and squeamish sequences can't completely cover up a safe body horror that carries the scars of a so-so script and surface-level dissection of its gloopy subject matter."

Supergirl, meanwhile, cratered at the box office with a global gross of just $126.4 million. "While Supergirl didn't meet our box office expectations, it's just one component of a broader, long-term strategy at DC Studios that we remain confident in," DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran reflected.

"I spoke with Matt [Reeves], and he was incredibly supportive, as well as James Gunn," Clayface director Watkins told GamesRadar+. "And I said, 'Look, this is where I want to go,' and they were like, 'Great, do it.' And there was no mandate to try and match or change or do anything. There was this notion that, 'This is what we're going to create for Clayface, and this feels right for this story.' I like the standalone nature of this story. I didn't have to worry about any concerns for a greater universe."

Clayface is in theaters this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Clayface is almost upon us, and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has confirmed that Batman is indeed active in Gotham during the events of the upcoming film.

"We haven't really talked about what he's doing during the actual events of Clayface," Safran told Collider. "But Batman is there. This is the introduction to the live-action Gotham. We showed a silhouette of Batman in Creature Commandos, so you know he's around, but this is the first step into the world of Gotham for us."

Batman appears for just a moment in Creature Commandos season 1 episode 6, standing on the rooftop overlooking the Penguin's nightclub. We got our first live-action mention of Batman in Lanterns season 1 episode 6, as Hal Jordan complains about him using the Bat Signal in Gotham (which is something that Guy Gardner, the DCU's current Green Lantern, has decided to co-opt).

Despite being darker and grittier, Clayface is indeed part of the DCU proper, rather than being part of the Matt Reeves Batman universe. We've yet to see Batman in live-action, nor has there been any casting news or news of a DCU Batman movie. Another Batman villain has also been given their own standalone project, with Poison Ivy set to make her live-action DCU debut soon. This can only mean that Batman isn't too far away...

Clayface arrives this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Over the years, Clayface has come in many shapes and sizes: thespian comedy sidekick in the Harley Quinn series, meme minifigure in the LEGO Batman games, and even as the focal point of Emmy-nominated two-parter 'Feat of Clay' in the seminal 1990s show Batman: The Animated Series.

2026's Clayface – the first outright horror in the DCU – taps into the rich narrative vein of the latter, molding the comic book villain into a tragic, deeply troubled figure that manages to escape the long shadow of the Bat for his own flawed, grisly rampage through Gotham.

Fresh off an Oscar nomination, the world of sandy-blonde actor Matt Hagen (a starmaking performance from Tom Rhys Harries) soon crashes down around him after bedding the girlfriend of crime boss Markos Szabo (David Dencik). The repercussions are severe and instant in a breezy first act: Hagen's face is slashed to pieces. His one saving grace is experimental nanocell surgery by outcast scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie).

From there, Hagen's internal strife is quickly swept to one side, despite Rhys Harries' best efforts (the first casualty of Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini's underbaked script), for a full-throated revenge quest as a shapeshifting Matt lashes out at those who have left his career in tatters.

What follows is a pulpy, predictable trail for Hagen to follow, though sprinklings of a will-they/won't they dynamic between the former actor and Corr, suffering through a rocky relationship with a GCPD detective (Max Minghella), adds early intrigue to the villain's origin story.

While your mileage may vary on the Frankenstein-flavored romance, it never quite amounts to anything more than set dressing for scenes filled with buckets of the red stuff. For audiences, though, that red-hot passion being substituted for dripping claret should be enough – a real shock to the system from a DCU that is quickly learning that its biggest strength, like Clayface himself, is in its malleability.

Face off

Much like the utensils Matt uses to disfigure his face, director James Watkins wields the camera in tricky, suffocating fashion – and deploys gory special effects with a razor-sharp mastery.

One particular hide-behind-your-hands moment involves plane turbulence and travel scissors as Matt's treatment fails, creating a vivid sense of dread that isn't always present throughout its cornucopia of splattered brains and sliced-off fingers. It just might make you reconsider how you pack your carry-on luggage in future.

Another gripping sequence comes later on at Gotham's Vesuvius nightclub. There, a more mutated Hagen passes through undetected as his Clayface powers morph the action into something more tangibly closer to a Hitman level or Trap-esque navigation of social spaces.

Not only does it confidently stand out as Clayface's highest point with its frenetic fighting, it also acts as an ingenious blueprint for the Batman villain to be torn away from the murderous excesses of his R-rated backdrop. Should it materialize, a future showdown with the Caped Crusader won't feel like his edges have been sanded off. If nothing else, it's proof Clayface can survive just fine beyond his own movie.

If only that same care and attention to detail were present elsewhere. Fittingly for a film that revolves around disfigurement and plastic surgery, Clayface's themes are only surface-level in their explorations.

Instead of interrogating the fascinating to-and-fro between Hollywood's impossible beauty standards and body dysmorphia, Clayface continually runs the risk of being too simple and too safe. But if you're only here for gnarly kills and squeamish, uncomfortable horror as Matt's dashing good looks and chiselled features melt away, you'll no doubt walk away with your bloodlust satiated.

Watkins and the production team working its magic with special effects, though, doesn't necessarily mean the (admittedly sensible) budget stretches beyond its means.

Clayface's CGI can be shonky in places, while Gotham is a big letdown. The best portrayals of Batman's home turf paint it as a diseased and decaying city, rotten down to its very brickwork. Clayface's take doesn't inspire, coming across as tawdry and more Joker-lite than a confident first taste of the streets where Batman will soon make his name in the DCU.

Clayface, then, struggles to balance its dual personalities. As a superhero movie, it's a freakishly good time, setting itself apart from anything put out by DC and Marvel in terms of tone and terror. But as a horror movie, its skin-deep thrills and spills mask an uneven tragedy that even the emerging star power of Tom Rhys Harries can't overcome completely.

Clayface releases in cinemas on October 23. For more, we have a guide on DCU Chapter One and other upcoming DC movies.

Clayface is nearly upon us... and it's a straight-up body horror that tells the origin story of the beloved Batman supervillain. A standalone movie about one of the most infamous baddies in Batman's rogues' gallery is especially exciting... as this means we're just that much closer to meeting Batman in the DCU proper.

The movie, directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, follows Hollywood actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), who goes from the absolute height of his acting career to getting his face cut up by a Gotham mob boss. After failed reconstructive surgeries, he approaches Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) in order to undergo an experimental procedure that restores his face... but ultimately turns him into something else entirely.

But who is Matt Hagen? Did we originally meet him in DC Comics? Well, yes, but the movie took most of its inspiration from an episode of Batman: The Animated Series... Don't worry, we explain below (and without any spoilers to boot).

Who is Matt Hagen?

There have been several iterations of Clayface (eight to be exact), with the character Basil Karlo, a B-list movie actor, making his first appearance as the shapeshifting villain all the way back in Detective Comics #40 circa 1940. Matt Hagen was introduced in Detective Comics #268 circa 1962 as not an actor, but a treasure hunter who becomes Clayface after stumbling into a radioactive pool of protoplasm.

Matt Hagen is reimagined in Batman: The Animated Series season 1 episodes 4 and 5, titled 'Feats of Clay.' It's important to note that it's this iteration of Clayface that the new live-action movie is based on... not the treasure-hunting Matthew Hagen we meet in the comics (which has indeed been confirmed by Mike Flanagan). In BTAS, Matt is a successful actor whose face becomes permanently disfigured in a car accident.

Desperate, he buys a 'miracle' chemical cream called Renuyu from corrupt businessman and Gotham mobster Rolan Daggett (who is an enemy of the Wayne family in the comics). The cream restores his face, but also gives him the ability to change it to that of anyone he comes into contact with. A fight with Daggett and his henchmen results in them holding Matt down and pouring an entire vat of Renuyu down his throat, which mutates his body and turns him into Clayface.

In the movie, it's an experimental cell regeneration procedure gone wrong that turns Matt into Clayface... though it does give him the same abilities: shape-shifting, regeneration, and superhuman strength. The film also takes place before Creature Commandos season 1, which sees an animated Clayface (in his full nasty, goopy, and toothy form) link up with Princess Ilana Rostovic and impersonate Professor Aisla MacPherson. At the end of the season, Clayface is taken to Arkham Asylum. Both projects are canon to the DCU, which means our friend Matt Hagen begins his true supervillain arc sometime after the events of Clayface.

It's worth noting that we do see Batman for just a second in Creature Commandos, which tells us that the Caped Crusader is likely very aware of Clayface, if he hasn't battled him already. DCU co-CEO James Gunn has already commented that we'll see Matt Hagen again in other DCU projects.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more, check out our list of all the upcoming DC movies and shows you need to know about.

Clayface, the latest movie from DC Studios, is a villain origin story for the titular Matt Hagen – with copious amounts of body horror.

After being horrifically disfigured by a mobster, Matt – previously an up-and-coming Hollywood actor – gains shapeshifting powers after receiving experimental treatment from Dr. Caitlyn Corr. But, this comes with a terrible cost: when he gets too emotional, he can completely lose control of his body. The result is a grisly, R-rated horror flick.

"Well, I think if you're going to buy a ticket for a horror movie, it's like buying a ticket for a roller coaster ride, right? You don't want to buy a ticket for the really boring ride," Clayface director James Watkins tells us when we meet with him in London and ask why he wanted to take the film in this direction. "You want to buy a ticket for the really out there ride, the one with real ups and downs, the one that goes upside down and throws you around in circles."

To make his body horror, Watkins drew on some iconic inspiration. "In terms of movies, I guess I'd probably look back to the films that I really liked when I was growing up and drew inspiration from those, so whether that was a lot of David Cronenberg, body horror, obviously Videodrome, The Fly is a massive reference for this movie, obviously, The Thing, American Werewolf in London," he tells us. "Brilliant films that have the body horror, but they have a kind of humanity to them. They have a human story that grounds it, that makes you connect with the characters, and that's why I think those films are so good."

The film also makes use of practical effects, with Matt Hagen actor Tom Rhys Harries wearing facial prosthetics. "It kind of led it," Harries tells us of how that affected his performance. "We had conversations with James Watkins on set where I'd have prosthetics that were covering the majority of my face, but, say the scene was asking for something that was a bit lighter in tone, if I was to smile through these prosthetics, I learned fairly quickly that if I was hitting like a 20% smile, it wouldn't read as 20%, it would read at like two. So, I had to really push it. But then that speaks to the kind of trust that you have between you, the director, the DOP Rob Hardy, who I think has done a phenomenal job in terms of lighting this in a way that feels colorful, whilst also maintaining the dark, dingy essence of Gotham."

One particularly gruesome scene sees Matt attempting to cut his own eyelids open with a pair of scissors in an airplane bathroom, as turbulence rocks the flight back and forth. It's a difficult watch...

"I remember hearing crew members groaning off camera," recalls Harries. "Is that scene fairly heavily ADR? That day was quite fun, because you're doing it technically, right? And there's a lot of different departments that are involved in a sequence like that. On set, you have a video village, which is basically like a bunch of monitors and different departments using monitors for different things. But it was particularly busy that day, where people were just looking at the screen, because it's all in camera. You probably have a bit of digital smoothing around the edges of the eyes, but I'm really cutting through prosthetics in that thing, and I think that translates to a feeling when you're watching it."

"They brought in a big plane cabin, just the cabin, like the tube of it, where we had all our supporting artists, and that was on air bellows so it could move, so we could do the turbulence for real, sort of," Watkins says. "And then we had the bathroom, which was a separate little set, which was on a gimbal, which is a sort of device that you can rotate. And then Tom had the prosthetics on and the contact lenses. He had, actually, four pairs of scissors. There was a sharp pair, there was a dull pair, there was a rubber pair, and I think there was a pair that had the tip missing in case we needed to add it.

"But basically, he just sort of started getting stuck in with the sharp pair, and I was like, 'Are we safe? Are we safe?' And he's like, 'No, no, I got it, I got it,'" Watkins continues. "And I think most of the stuff in there is that. I'm sat there, and you've got lots of monitors on a film stage because, you know, hair and makeup, whatever, everyone has to check what's going on, check how it is, and I remember being at the monitors and people going, 'Oh my god,' and so I knew at that moment that we were tapping into something."

Naturally, a body horror movie is best enjoyed with a crowd. "It's amazing to see the audience react to it," says Max Minghella, who plays GCPD cop John Borrelli. "That's sort of the most fun part, is the communal experience of seeing this film in a cinema with a big crowd and getting to scream and giggle and have that whole thing together." Caitlyn actor Naomi Ackie, for her part, says she was "buzzing" to see the finished product for the first time.

"I watched it with Naomi and my agent," says Harries. "There were three of us in this big cinema in Soho, and I'm so proud of James Watkins and John Harris, the editor, and I think the film really plays and moves at a real – like, I love the pace of the film. And I'm not an objective judge of it, so I'm looking at it from a fairly technical standpoint, but I'm really proud of all the different departments and what we've got, and I'm so excited for people to see it."

Clayface arrives this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Clayface might take place in Gotham City, but the DC location's famous protector, Batman, is nowhere to be seen.

That's because Clayface is the standalone tale of Matt Hagen, an up-and-coming Hollywood actor who is horrifically disfigured by a mobster after a drunken bad decision on a night out.

But, was director James Watkins ever tempted to include an obvious reference to the Dark Knight?

"I wasn't," he tells GamesRadar+ when we meet with him in London to discuss the film. "Because I sort of felt, like the Joker is the story of one person in Gotham, so is this," he adds, referencing Todd Phillips's 2019 film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime. "It's a city of a very many million people, and this is Matt Hagen's story. I didn't want to get too cute. I just wanted to be honest to the story."

Still, while Batman might not show up, the movie does establish Gotham City in the DCU for the first time, and it's a fittingly gritty, seedy, and lively version of the iconic setting.

"I wanted Gotham to be a character," explains Watkins. "It's this overbearing city. I've got a brilliant production designer, James Price, he did Poor Things, he won an Oscar for that. We've worked with him a few times. James and I talked a lot about German expressionist cinema from the '30s with buildings looming over people. And with Rob Hardy the DP, we looked at cinematography and photography from New York from the 70s and 80s and 90s, where it was really a rough city, and textures, and dirt, and had neons, and this kind of dirty poetry that the city had back then.

"So, trying to capture some of that, that sort of city where the rubbish doesn't get picked up, where it's corrupt, where you can't get a break, and then contrasting that with Coast City, where Matt is initially, which is sunny, and golden, and blue sky, and sea, and there's vegetation, greenery, which there isn't in Gotham," he adds. "You barely can see the sky in Gotham. It's always oppressive. We frame out the sky most of the time. The buildings frame it out. So, it was very much trying to land it as a character."

Of course, this is far from the first time that Gotham has been depicted on screen. "As well as looking at a lot of non-film reference, I looked at all the films," explains Watkins. "Joel Schumacher's world is very dayglow, whereas Chris Nolan's world is very grounded. Tim Burton's world with brilliant production design. Trying to track those different worlds is kind of fun, but they're all versions of Gotham."

The attention to detail translated into the fictional city feeling incredibly real for the actors themselves. "I kept having moments on set where I was just like, 'Whoa,'" says Matt Hagen actor Tom Rhys Harries. "You sort of normalize it, and then you remember that this is a very surreal thing to be experiencing. I thought James Price, the designer, did an incredible job of filling that world in and giving it an extended world beyond what we see on the camera. I'd pick up an empty soda can that had a very specific, niche Gotham branding on this soda can, and then underneath it would be a sticker that was crumpled up, and you'd open it up, and it would be like, I don't know, a ticket to a gig that was happening in Gotham that night. I'd had a number of pinch me moments throughout this whole process."

That also led to Max Minghella, who plays GCPD cop John Borrelli in the film, having a surreal moment of his own on set. "I went to see James Gunn's Superman in the cinema. I really loved it, and I knew nothing that I was going to be involved in this movie," he says. "And then, quite quickly after I saw that film in the cinema, I was on set holding a Jitters Coffee cup, which is featured in Superman. And I do think it was one of the most surreal moments of my life, because I was like, 'I just went to see this film, and there was this prop in the movie, and now I'm holding that prop,' but it felt like it was yesterday. And I thought, 'Wow, the magic of movies.' I never get over it. It's just a kid in a candy shop, it's so fun."

The GCPD is also an iconic Gotham institution, which makes joining the universe particularly exciting. "Look, I can't pretend I was cool about it. I was completely overexcited and couldn't believe it," says Minghella. "I was pinching myself every day. It's just a real childhood dream come true. And then on top of that, Naomi [Ackie] and I both, even before we were part of this film, recognized it might be quite special, that there is something really original about it, but also that the Clayface character will lend itself in a very cinematic way. So, it wasn't just like we get to establish Gotham, and I get to be a cop, and all that stuff. It was also that we were making a movie we all really believed in. We all felt like we were doing something that was going to be different, so the whole thing was amazing."

"You see Gotham in the day," adds Ackie, who plays Caitlyn Corr, the doctor who treats Matt's injuries (and inadvertently gives him his shapeshifting powers). "You rarely see Gotham in the day. There are some scenes where there's neighbourhoods, people are having fun, normal things: different shades of Gotham that allow for you to believe that people live in Gotham and make it by."

But, don't expect to spot every Gotham City detail – even Watkins doesn't know all of them. "There are quite a few Easter eggs in the movie, and actually there are some I don't even know about because the graphics department, the production design department, they were always sneaking in little things all over the place," he says.

Clayface arrives in theaters this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Just in time for Halloween, Clayface is gearing up to scare audiences silly in theaters across the world as the DCU's first horror movie reintroduces fans to the gloopiest Batman villain. But just because this is the monster's first solo movie docent mean you have to go in blind.

Starring Tom Rhys Harries, the new movie follows budding Hollywood actor Matt Hagen as he reaches his prime, only to have his stardom tragically cut short when a local gang leaves him horribly disfigured. Abandoned and desperate, Hagen seeks out the help of Naomi Ackie's scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr. But the experimental treatment takes a turn for the worst, sending him on a path of revenge and destruction.

So, with Clayface making his big-screen debut, you may be wondering whether you need to do any DCU Chapter One homework before sitting down to watch the new movie. Well, kind of. Below, we break down which movies and TV shows you need to have seen before heading to the cinema to purchase one of those quite disturbing Clayface popcorn buckets.

The DC movies and shows to watch before Clayface

The DCU essentials

Luckily for new fans, Clayface technically takes place first on the DCU timeline, if we're not counting the Lanterns 2016 timeline. The DCU has been pretty good so far at releasing projects in chronological order, starting with Superman, Peacemaker season 2, Supergirl, and Lanterns' main timeline. However, earlier this year, DC Studios boss James Gunn took to Threads to confirm that Clayface does indeed take place before Superman, adding, "It's the first DCU film out of chronological order."

So, with that in mind, you technically don't have to watch anything before Clayface, but it might be helpful to catch up with the live-action projects mentioned above to get a better idea of the wider universe the villain exists in. As for the character himself, this won't be the first time we have met Clayface in the DCU. The baddie shows up in the 2025 animated show Creature Commandos as his fully transformed gloopy self.

DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has confirmed that the Clayface we first met in Creature Commandos season 1 is the same one we're about to meet in the live-action horror movie. Now, that is a little confusing, especially considering that Alan Tudyk voices the cartoon Clayface in the show, rather than the movie's star Tom Rhys Harries. But what would be more confusing is having two of the same character in the same universe. Alas, you may want to check out the show to get a taste of what's to come.

Optional viewing

Batman: The Animated Series

Now, even though Batman: The Animated Series isn't connected to the upcoming movie, the show is the only other DC project besides the new movie to focus on Matt Hagen. Season 1 episode 20, titled 'Feat of Clay, ' depicts Hagen's villain origin story, following the actor who is left disfigured after an accident and turns to a chemical formula from Roland Daggett's labs. Even though this differs slightly from the upcoming film, which sees Hagen attacked by criminals and seek out a new AI-led medical trial, the show gives us a taste of the actor turning to the dark side.

The '90s show showcases the most beloved and memorable portrayal of Clayface, but it isn't the only DC project to have included the Batman villain. Clayface shows up in the 2004 animated show The Batman as the Ethan Bennet incarnation, and the 2019 series Harley Quinn features his criminal variant, Basil Carlo. As for live action, Clayface appears in the early '00s series Birds of Prey as Cassius Payne, as Basil Carlo again in 2016's Gotham, and as female CIA officer Virginia Devereaux in Pennyworth in 2022.

James Gunn's horror recommendations

If you have a little more time on your hands this week and want to take your watching homework one step further, you can dive into James Gunn's horror recommendations. Ahead of Clayface, Gunn was asked which body horror movie he thinks DC fans should watch before Clayface hits screens, and the DC boss has listed some classics.

• Shivers, Directed by David Cronenberg (1975)
• Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Directed by Phillip Kaufman (1978)
• The Brood, Directed by David Cronenberg (1979)
• Altered States, Directed by Ken Russell (1980)
• The Thing, Directed by John Carpenter (1982)
• Basket Case, Directed by Frank Henenlotter (1982)
• Videodrome, Directed by David Cronenberg (1983)
• Re-Animator, Directed by Stuart Gordon (1985)
• The Fly, Directed by David Cronenberg (1986)
• The Blob, Directed by Chuck Russell (1988)
• Cronos, Directed by Guillermo del Toro (1993)
• Slither, Directed by James Gunn (2006)

It is easy to see why Gunn has included the titles above. Many of them focus on humans experiencing severe bodily changes, scientists creating fearsome monsters, and seriously gory mutations. Hey, if you don't have time to dive into Gunn's list ahead of Clayface, any of the films above would make perfect Halloween movies.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more, check out how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with new DC movies and TV shows on the way.

Resident Evil director Zach Cregger is still keen to make his Batman movie.

The film idea isn't strictly a Batman movie in the traditional sense, as it would follow a pharmacist who becomes a henchman of the Joker's. So, it sounds pretty similar to Cregger's Resident Evil movie, which takes place "on the periphery" of Resident Evil 2 and follows a medical courier through a terrible night in Racoon City.

"I like small, intimate stories that are relatively simple," Cregger told A Shot magazine, adding: "Just like an ant pushing a grain of sand."

He further explained: "Something that is just, you can wrap your head around the problem that this character has, and I'm not dealing with these giant tectonic plates of politics and lore and all those things."

He added: "We've seen so many Batman stories, but to see it from just a bystander who's on the edge of everything, I don't know, I'm so fascinated by that."

Cregger has previously shared more details about his idea. "It's a script called Henchman. It's about a normal guy," he told Men's Health. "It's about a pharmacist who lives in Gotham City, and he gets accidentally sucked into this incredible power play between Batman and The Joker. And he finds himself a very integral part of something. And, so, it's a weird movie. It's someone living on the periphery of all the stories in Gotham that we know of and it's about some random. I'm not the world's biggest Batman guy at all, but I just liked this story. I liked this character. I liked what happened to him, so it was just fun."

However, he has also cautioned that it's "getting blown out of proportion online," explaining "it's not a Joker and Harley Quinn script" and he's "not talked to James Gunn about it."

Next up for DC is Clayface, which arrives in theaters this October 23. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

Clayface arrives as the third movie in the DCU and is set in Gotham City, home to Batman. But, the film is a standalone with very few connections to the wider shared universe, instead placing its focus squarely on its tragic villain protagonist.

Matt Reeves, architect of his own Bat-verse, is a producer on the film, along with DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran. But, according to director James Watkins, there were no guardrails for fitting the film into the DCU.

"I spoke with Matt, and he was incredibly supportive, as well as James Gunn," Watkins tells us when we meet with him in London. "And I said, 'Look, this is where I want to go,' and they were like, 'Great, do it.' And there was no mandate to try and match or change or do anything. There was this notion that, 'This is what we're going to create for Clayface, and this feels right for this story.' I like the standalone nature of this story. I didn't have to worry about any concerns for a greater universe."

But that doesn't mean Clayface exists entirely apart – even if the connections are so small you might not even notice them.

"There was little things, like if you had an advertisement hoarding, there was stuff that James had, like various burgers or products from their world, and we could cherry-pick some of the products that we thought [worked]," explains Watkins. "In the newspaper, there's a burger on it at some point, so there's kind of little Easter eggs and things that we've cross-referenced from their fictional world. But there was no overarching, 'You must do this,' or 'You must do that.'"

The film being so standalone hasn't stopped star Tom Rhys Harries from assessing his chances against Batman, either.

Clayface is in theaters this October 23. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

Batman might strike fear into the heart of every Gotham ne'er-do-well – but Clayface star Tom Rhys Harries is confident he could handle the Dark Knight in a fight.

The new DC film is a dark, villainous origin story for Harries's Matt Hagen, an up-and-coming actor who is horrifically disfigured by a mobster after a bad decision on a night out. As Matt embarks on a gruesome revenge quest, he slowly begins to lose his morality.

While the film is very much a standalone tale, it certainly leaves the door open for Matt Hagen to return (and the character has appeared later on the DCU timeline in Creature Commandos, too).

"Think how many people he could destroy," Harries tells GamesRadar+ when we meet in London to discuss the film and bring up the character's future. "In terms of getting used to his powers, he's just a baby. Matt can destroy everybody. He's also a man that has nothing to lose. Very dangerous."

Matt's story is certainly a tragedy, but, despite the film going to great pains to make us empathize with Hagen, Harries is clear that his character is no good guy. "I think he is without question a villain, and I think that by the end he is. He has nothing to lose. There's a certain point of pain that somebody might feel, and feeling like there's an injustice in the world, where he could lean into this space where he's like, 'Well, if I'm going down, I'm bringing you all down with me, and I'm going to burn this thing to the ground.'"

Naturally, that kind of character arc might draw the attention of Gotham's protector, the Caped Crusader himself. So, would Harries want to fight Batman someday? "It would be a fairly short fight, I think," he says. When we ask if Harries thinks his villain would be the winner, he responds: "Without question." Batman better watch his back.

Clayface is in theaters this October 23. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows for everything else that's on the way.

Every year the Razzie Awards roll around, honouring the worst acting performances of the season. But although the ceremony is meant to be a bit of fun, DC star Jessie Eisenberg says winning one in 2017 seriously affected his career.

"I couldn't get into movie studio parts anymore because I had won a Raspberry Award from [being in the] Batman movie," said Eisenberg at the BFI London Film Festival (via Variety).

Eisenberg was awarded the Razzie, officially known as The Golden Raspberry, for worst supporting actor for his performance in the 2016 DC movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The star played villain Lex Luthor across from Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman. The movie itself took home four Razzies in total, including worst sequel, worst screenplay, and worst screen combo.

However, what was supposedly meant to be a lighthearted joke made Eisenberg change direction in his career. "A lot of it just came from fear," added the star. Eisenberg moved away from acting and began to pursue writing and directing. "The industry tells you what they want from you. The industry did not want me to be in a superhero movie, and if you're smart and self-aware, you learn that quickly."

In fact, Superman v Batman's bad reception made him turn away from the superhero genre altogether. "It's the unsuccessful actor that goes, 'No, I want to be in more of those.' It's not going to happen, and they don't want you there, and they wouldn't have given you a Raspberry Award if they wanted you there. That's an award for bad acting," he explained. "So I was like, 'I've got to direct movies.' That's why I started writing them, just to kind of keep my career afloat, really."

Since the 2016 movie, Eisenberg has written and directed movies When You Finish Saving the World, the Oscar-winning 2024 flick Real Pain, and new release The Debut. But Eisenberg is still acting, starring in movies such as Vivarium, and returning for sequels Zombieland: Double Tap and Now You See Me: Now You Don't.

For more, keep up with upcoming movies and movie release dates.

Frank Grillo isn't listening to criticism of Rick Flag Sr.'s actions in the DCU.

The character – father to Rick Flag Jr., whom Peacemaker killed in The Suicide Squad – deliberately stranded Christopher Smith in Salvation in the Peacemaker season 2 finale. That sounds pretty villainous, but Grillo thinks Flag Sr. is totally justified.

"Right now, I am? I didn't know that!" Grillo said, when MovieWeb asked if he was handling being one of the most hated DCU characters.

When MovieWeb prompted him on what Rick Flag Sr. did to Smith, he replied: "Peacemaker killed my son! Let me help you here. He murdered my son, my child." When the interviewer pointed out Peacemaker feels guilty, Grillo responded: "Whose problem is it, mine or yours? You're crazy." Check out the moment below.

We'll next see Rick Flag Sr. in Man of Tomorrow, though it's currently unclear when – or if – we'll ever see Peacemaker again.

"My character, Rick Flag Sr., is a big part of the sequel's story, so I'm excited about it," Grillo has previously teased of his role.

Man of Tomorrow sees Superman forced to team up with his nemesis Lex Luthor against the villainous Braniac. Aaron Pierre's John Stewart and Milly Alcock's Supergirl will also return, along with Xolo Maridueña's Blue Beetle, Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl, and Adria Arjona and Matthew Lillard in mystery roles.

"In the first movie, and rightly so, we learn a lot about who Superman is. In [Man of Tomorrow], I think we'll learn more about who Lex Luthor is, and I think it's equally important," Fillion has previously teased of the film.

Man of Tomorrow arrives on July 9, 2027. Next up for the DCU is Clayface, which hits theaters this October 23.

In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else the DCU has in store.

The DCU's next movie, Clayface, is almost upon us, and DC co-CEO James Gunn has released a list of body horror movies to get us in the mood for everyone's favorite goopy supervillain.

Gunn took to Threads to share the list after a fan asked what they should watch, if anything, to prepare for a fleshy, goopy nightmare of a horror movie like Clayface. The list leans David Cronenberg-heavy, with Shivers, The Brood, The Fly, and Videodrome all making the list. However, Gunn also included Invasion of the Body Snatchers, John Carpenter's The Thing, Guillermo del Toro's Cronos, and his own body horror, 2006's Slither. You can check out the rest of the list below.

Gunn has also stated that Clayface is a straight-up horror movie, rather than a horror-superhero hybrid (such as Blade or The Crow). The movie follows Hollywood actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), who makes the mistake of getting with a mobster's girlfriend. After they cut up his face, effectively ending his career, he decides to undergo an experimental treatment at the hands of trusted doctor Caitlin Bates (Naomi Ackie). Needless to say... he doesn't exactly get the results he was hoping for.

James Watkins (Eden Lake) directs from a screenplay penned by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan also star.

Clayface releases in theaters October 23. For more, check out our guides to all the upcoming DC movies and shows and our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

DCU Studios co-CEO James Gunn has revealed plans for the universe's Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, have changed since it was announced.

Originally, the movie was set to be about Bruce Wayne and his biological son Damian Wayne, who, in the comics, becomes Robin and fights crime at his father's side.

When asked by a fan on Threads "have the plans for DCU Batman changed creatively in some way since the 2023 announcement of The Brave and the Bold?" Gunn responded with a simple: "Yep."

Now, it's unclear what exactly that means – at the moment, no DCU Batman has been cast, and he has only been seen briefly in silhouette in the DCU. So, the film has plenty of freedom to go in any direction.

The Brave and the Bold will be the DCU's take on Batman, while Matt Reeves's The Batman 2 is an Elseworlds movie with no connection to the shared universe. News recently broke that Steven Soderbergh will take over principal photography on the film while Reeves deals with a personal matter.

"Just to be clear, I am not leaving The Batman Part II," Reeves has clarified. "I am profoundly grateful to Steven for coming to my aid during this challenging time to help me finish principal photography. Thank you to all for your concern and well wishes."

The Batman 2 will be released on February 18, 2028. Next up for the DCU is Clayface, which arrives on October 23.

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

The Batman 2 is set to resume filming with director Steven Soderbergh overseeing production. The film's director Matt Reeves has addressed the news on X, confirming to fans that he's not exiting the movie.

"Just to be clear, I am not leaving The Batman Part II," he wrote. "I am profoundly grateful to Steven for coming to my aid during this challenging time to help me finish principal photography. Thank you to all for your concern and well wishes."

Filming on The Batman 2 halted earlier this month as Reeves attended to a "family matter". A new report from Deadline confirmed that it will resume with Soderbergh overseeing after the Ocean's Eleven director offered his services to help out.

He'll be on hand to "complete the final weeks of principal photography on The Batman Part II," according to a statement from DC Studios. The statement continued: "Matt and Steven will work closely together with the actors and crew to fulfill Matt's vision of the film."

DC Studios head James Gunn also weighed in on the news to confirm that Reeves is still at the helm of the film. "Matt is still the director of The Batman 2 and always will be," he wrote on Threads. "I can't express how profoundly grateful and moved we are by Steven's offer to help him complete his vision."

The Batman 2 is set to hit theaters on February 18, 2028, six years after the first movie was released.

For more upcoming superhero movies, here's our guide to new DCU movies and shows on the way.

The temporary pause on The Batman 2 production will soon be lifted as Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh is filling in for Matt Reeves to direct while Reeves deals with a family-related issue.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that filming on The Batman 2 had been halted to allow Reeves to attend "a family matter." Just 10 days later, Deadline reports that Soderbergh will step in to direct the DC Studios sequel in its final weeks of production. Soderbergh will reportedly finish filming the project while in communication with Reeves, who won't be on set. Reeves is said to be picking up post-production duties after filming wraps.

"As Matt Reeves continues to attend to an ongoing family matter, Steven Soderbergh, as an admirer of Matt's work, approached Matt and will step in, with the full support of DC Studios, to help the writer-director complete the final weeks of principal photography on The Batman Part 2. Matt and Steven will work closely together with the actors and crew to fulfill Matt's vision of the film," reads a statement from DC Studios.

Soderbergh, who won an Oscar for his 2000 crime drama Traffic, said in his own statement that "Matt Reeves' work on The Batman was stunning; it was intentional, specific, and rigorously coherent," adding, "The goal here is to work with Matt and his team to generate footage that will integrate seamlessly with what’s already been shot so Matt can properly finish his film."

The Batman 2 still has a theatrical release date of February 18, 2028. Deadline reports that it's too soon to say whether that'll change due to the temporary pause in production.

The cast includes Robert Pattinson returning as Batman alongside Andy Serkis as Alfred and Colin Farrell as Penguin. New additions to the cast include Charles Dance, Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry, Jayme Lawson, and Sebastian Stan.

While you wait for The Batman 2, here's our guide to the best Batman movies and all of the upcoming DC movies you have to look forward to.

Several DC Studios projects have fallen by the wayside – but not Swamp Thing.

James Mangold's horror project has largely been on the backburner since it was first unveiled back in 2023.

Speaking to Deadline at the Clayface premiere, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has confirmed that work is still ongoing on the film.

"We're working on it, absolutely," Safran said. "The script is being written as we speak. But it's something we're excited about. All these things take time – when you've already got a filmmaker involved, you've got to wait for their window [of availability] as well."

Prior to this, Mangold described his take on Swamp Thing as a "simple, clean Gothic horror about this man/monster."

Mangold told MovieWeb, "[I'm] just doing my own thing with this, just a standalone. I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it's almost immovable and you can't please anybody."

While Swamp Thing isn't one of DC's A-list characters, the creature – a swamp monster aiming to protect the environment – is one of comics' more popular supernatural beings. Swamp Thing's popularity rose in the 1980s thanks to an acclaimed run by Alan Moore and a 2019 live-action show was short-lived but well-received. Throughout most of its history, however, the character has largely existed on the periphery of DC fandom.

Swamp Thing won't be the only horror presence in the DCU. Early Clayface reactions are praising the grisly take on the origin story of the iconic Batman villain.

For more, we have a look at what's ahead as part of DCU Chapter One.

The DCU's next movie, Clayface, has premiered, and the supervillain body horror is already being called "shockingly gruesome" in early reactions. Good news for all the Clay-heads out there, then: James Gunn has revealed this won't be the last we see of Matt Hagen in the DCU.

Speaking to Cinemex on the Clayface red carpet, Gunn confirmed that the gloopy, shapeshifting bad guy will return in a future DCU project. "I think one of the most fun things about creating the DCU is being able to tell stories that are very, very different from one another, in very different genres, and yet they all come together at certain points," Gunn said. "And yeah, this isn't the last we'll see of Clayface. And I can't wait for you guys to see what we do with him."

Of course, we've seen Hagen before in the DCU: he appears in the first season of the animated series Creature Commandos (and, yes, James Gunn has previously confirmed that the characters are one and the same). It's possible Gunn could simply be referring to the fact that Hagen will almost certainly pop up in Creature Commandos season 2, but given the character is best known for being part of Batman's rogues' gallery, Clayface appearing in The Brave and the Bold, or a future Batman-starring DCU movie feels like a distinct possibility.

The Batman buzz is certainly building around the DCU. In a separate interview, Clayface star Tom Rhys Harries may have let slip that Batman is in Gotham during the events of the DCU movie. Clayface director James Watkins has also said that Batman's presence will be felt "inherently" in Clayface, telling SFX magazine: "You're in a city called Gotham. So I guess you feel the shadow of the Bat inherently. Because of the nature of where you are."

Clayface releases in theaters October 23. For more, check out our guides to all the upcoming DC movies and shows and our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

The Clayface press tour has only just started, but star Tom Rhys Harries may have already let slip that Batman is in Gotham while the new DCU movie takes place.

When asked by ComicBook whether Matt or Caitlin are aware of Batman's presence in Gotham, Harries said, "We have footage, and I don't think it's… I don't know how much I can say about this. Yes, we had discussions about that at length."

Now, we don't know if Harries is saying that there is or was footage of Batman himself, or if there is footage of his character Matt Hagen and Naomi Ackie's Dr. Caitlin Bates talking about Batman's presence in Gotham. But it sounds like the Caped Crusader is somehow involved in the story.

Fans are catching on to the slip, as one wrote on Twitter, "It definitely sounds like bro slipped up here. I'm not saying Batman is in the film but like genuinely he either misspoke or dropped a nuke." Another replied, "Bro pulled a Tom Holland," referring to the Spider-Man star who has dropped Marvel spoilers numerous times.

The upcoming Clayface movie acts as the villain's origin story, and the baddie was first introduced to DC Comics as a Batman villain, so the movie making a nod to the hero wouldn't be too surprising. However, with DC's Elseworlds Batman star Robert Pattinson not making the jump to DCU, James Gunn has yet to find his Bat before the first DCU Chapter One Batman project, The Brave and the Bold. Harries' slip-up makes us wonder if news on that is imminent.

Clayface wouldn't be the first DCU project to mention Bruce Wayne either, as Hal Jordan referenced Batman in HBO's Lanterns. Whether we see him or not, it sounds as though Batman's presence will be felt in Clayface. In an interview with SFX magazine, director James Watkins said, "You're in a city called Gotham. So I guess you feel the shadow of the Bat inherently. Because of the nature of where you are."

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more from the DCU, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and shows and our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

The first reactions have landed for Clayface, and it seems the new DCU horror is winning over early viewers. Directed by James Watkins, the movie tells the origin story of the iconic Batman villain, played here by Tom Rhys Harries.

With a script from Mike Flanagan, it seems the movie does not hold back on the body horror. Critics have been calling it "disgusting", "brutal", and "unsettling". Rhys Harries has also landed a lot of praise, while others have pointed out that the movie doesn't require any prior DC knowledge.

Collider's Steven Weintraub wrote: "Clayface was fantastic. An awesome addition to the DCU that doesn't require any knowledge of DC to enjoy. It's a hard R and loaded with brutal scenes that really surprised me. Audience freaked out a few times during my screening to what was being depicted on screen. "

Presenter Brandon Davis was also a fan, calling out director James Watkins "unsettling Gotham." He added: "Tom Rhys Harries is a star, literally in the movie and for his performance. Dude kills it. Well done by all."

"Clayface is one of the best horrors of the year," writes journalist Chalice Williams. "Was not expecting it to perfectly mesh horror and romance! Warner Bros & DC cooked with this & Mike Flanagan does not miss with his scripts."

"Dark, violent, with little levity to offset the nastiness, this is an exciting addition to Gunn’s DCU," writes film critic Peter Gray, who calls out how "brutal" the movie is.

Phase Hero host Jenna Anderson writes: "Clayface completely blew me away. It’s disgusting, inventive, and astonishingly funny and earnest. It slots into the DCU so effortlessly. You owe it to yourself to see it in a theater filled with other people’s reactions."

Check out some more reactions below.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more on DCU Chapter One, check out our breakdown of all the upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

Clayface pre-sales are significantly lower than notorious DC flop Supergirl at the same stage.

While some numbers have been doing the rounds on social media, those over at Box Office Theory – typically far more accurate than most – have Clayface flagging 80% behind Supergirl at the same stage, just over a week from release.

Its nearest competition, Resident Evil, also served far better – with Clayface 66% behind those current pre-sales. That sets it up for a $20 million opening weekend domestically. By comparison, Supergirl made around $38 million in the US on opening weekend.

Of course, there is an important caveat to be made: Clayface isn't a big-budget summer blockbuster in the vein of a Superman or Supergirl.

Its reported $40 million budget pales in comparison to its fellow DCU big-screen cousins, with only a halfway-decent opening weekend needed worldwide to race past those numbers.

Notable, too, is the fact that horror fans rarely buy pre-sale tickets in the same way superhero audiences crash websites and snap up seats in their droves weeks – or months, in the case of Avengers: Doomsday – before release.

Success for Clayface looks very different to success (or lack thereof) with Supergirl. The body horror affair could also be backloaded in a similar way to 2026's breakout hits Obsession and Backrooms if the quality is there.

So, no, it's not a complete disaster – but the powers-that-be at DC Studios will be hoping Clayface transforms into a word-of-mouth success after what is fast looking like a more middling opening weekend than expected.

Clayface follows the story of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an actor cursed with the ability to transform his body into living clay after being disfigured.

But that shape-shifting skillset isn't dampening Rhys Harries' DCU aspirations. With Batman casting a long shadow over the film, it appears he has the Caped Crusader in his sights.

"Yeah I could take Batman out," Rhys Harries told SFX magazine. "Clayface is so overpowered comparative to Batman. I can become anyone. I can become anything. Once Matt gains control over his powers then you're in a space where you're like, 'What do you want to use these for'."

Clayface will release on October 23. For more, check out the DCU Chapter One projects still in the works.

Superman star David Corenswet says his suit in the Man of Tomorrow sequel has been altered to be "ready for a fight."

“The suit itself is a little bit different,” Corenswet explained to People, "They re-engineered it to be slightly more functional and ready for a fight."

With Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor already spied in a heavy-duty combat suit and the supervillain Brainiac making his DCU bow, there's plenty of reason for the Man of Steel to have his outfit reinforced as he takes on his biggest challenge yet.

Alongside the super new fit, Corenswet sounded excited about picking apart Superman's relationship with arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. He said, Man of Tomorrow will "delve into that relationship between Superman and Lex a little deeper.”

Directed and written by DC Studios boss James Gunn, Man of Tomorrow acts as DCU's biggest event movie yet.

Also starring Rachel Brosnahan, Man of Tomorrow features several DC heroes – including Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Supergirl (Milly Alcock), and Blue Beetle (Xolo Mariduena).

Aaron Pierre's John Stewart – now an "independent contractor" as of the Lanterns season 1 ending – will make the leap to the big screen.

Adria Arjona has also been cast in an unknown role, with many speculating it could be Wonder Woman. That wasn't helped by Rick Flag Sr. actor Frank Grillo reposting a Man of Tomorrow poster with her wearing Diana's iconic costume. Gunn quickly stamped out any whispers, however, on social media.

Man of Tomorrow flies into cinemas on July 9, 2027. That's not all that's on the way. We have a guide on upcoming DC movies if you wish to know more.

Clayface actor Tom Rhys Harries has teased how powerful his new DCU villain really is. The new movie details the origin story of Matt Hagen, an actor who resorts to extreme measures after he's become disfigured to return to his former glory.

However, his treatment sparks an extreme transformation, turning him into a shapeshifting clay monster. In the DC comics, he's a Batman villain, and Harries thinks he would have a very good shot at taking down the Caped Crusder.

"Yeah I could take Batman out," he told told SFX magazine in the new issue. "Clayface is so overpowered comparative to Batman. I can become anyone. I can become anything. Once Matt gains control over his powers then you're in a space where you're like, 'What do you want to use these for'."

His comments follow on from the director James Watkins sharing his vision for creating Gotham that feels like Batman can walk around the corner at any point. "You're in a city called Gotham," he added to SFX. "So I guess you feel the shadow of the Bat inherently. Because of the nature of where you are."

Batman has been existing on the periphery of the DCU for a while now after he appeared in animated form in Creature Commandos. In Lanterns, we learned that one of the lead characters, Kerry, is from Gotham, and Hal Jordan even referenced Batman when speaking to Guy Gardner.

However, the character has yet to make a live-action debut yet and it's not yet clear who will play him in James Gunn and Peter Safran's ongoing plans. Clayface is the closest we've got to the Dark Knight yet as we see live-action Gotham properly for the first time in the new DCU.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more from the DCU, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and shows and our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

Clayface director James Watkins has opened up about creating the oppressive atmosphere of Gotham for the upcoming DCU movie – and how that makes it feel like a certain Dark Knight is breathing down your neck at every turn.

"We looked at a lot of 1980s and 1990s street photography," Watkins told SFX magazine. "There was a documentary called Everybody Street, and I looked at a lot of the work of the photographers in it. It captures the bawdy glamor of New York, slightly edgy, slightly eccentric, slightly menacing, richly saturated colors."

But was presenting such an integral location of the DCU something that required a lot of overnight? On the contrary, Watkins confirmed that he was "not micro-managed at all" and had "real support" from James Gunn and DC Studios.

"We want the world [of Gotham] to be corrupt. We want it to be a city where litter doesn't get picked up, where there's a sense of decay, where there's dirt, where the canyons of these places are overbearing."

To that end, Batman – who hasn't yet been officially cast in the DCU despite being namechecked in Creature Commandos and Lanterns – will feel right at home in the crime-laden streets of Gotham. Clayface may chart the origins of Bat-villain Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), but the Caped Crusader's presence will be felt in spirit, if not necessarily on camera.

"You're in a city called Gotham. So I guess you feel the shadow of the Bat inherently," Watkins said. "Because of the nature of where you are."

Clayface hits cinemas as part of DCU Chapter One on October 23.

For more, we have guides on upcoming DC movies and how to watch the DC movies in order – a perfect way to catch up on the DCU story so far.

Clayface star Tom Rhys Harries has revealed his surprising gaming habits during screen testing for the DCU role of Matt Hagen.

"I played Elden Ring to switch my brain off during the three months I was screen testing for Clayface," Rhys Harries told Elden Ring movie lead (and new Cyclops actor) Kit Connor for Interview Magazine. "It probably talks to my level of anxiety throughout that period."

Connor himself also offered some small insight into the upcoming Elden Ring movie, indicating he bulked up physically and "got big" for his lead role. The cast also includes Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, and Nick Offerman, with noted gamer and prolific writer/director Alex Garland behind the camera and on scripting duties. Filming wrapped in July.

Away from clashing with some of The Lands Between's nastiest residents, Rhys Harries also had plenty of praise for the Clayface script, which was penned by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini.

"I love the script…They’ve built these three brilliant acts. It’s almost like a Greek tragedy. There’s so much depth, it just gives you scope to be exploring loads of things that feel endless because human beings are endless," Rhys Harries said.

Despite recent trailers teasing his character's transformations, Rhys Harries said the full extent of the body horror won't become clear until you watch it in cinemas. In an interview with Empire, he simply said, "It’s fucking sick!"

Clayface hits cinemas on October 23. The Elden Ring movie, meanwhile, is released on March 3, 2028.

For more, discover the new DC movies and upcoming video game movies in the works.

Skydance, the new company formed by Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros, has laid out their plans for the DCU. There was some concern that the newly formed DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran may be axed in the turmoil.

Currently, however, it seems that the new company is committed to the future of the DCU. On the Skydance website, a special section is dedicated to DC Studios under the list of brands. In the bio, it states: "DC Studios is committed to building a long-term creative architecture to realize the power and wonder of the DC Universe across film, TV, animation and gaming under a single banner."

It goes on to talk about the upcoming releases, including Clayface, writing that, "the next chapter of this dynamic, all-new DCU will bring a range of stunning new characters and worlds to screens across the globe".

It was recently reported that Safran and Gunn will be sticking around for a while too. According to Deadline, the pair met with Skydance co-CEO David Ellison and will be staying in their roles.

The upcoming DCU slate is looking pretty exciting. Now that Lanterns has wrapped (although there is some talk of Lanterns season 2), next up is Clayface. This will be followed by Man of Tomorrow next year and the true crime mockumentary The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd, which looks very fun from the set leaks.

In terms of animation and gaming, Dynamic Duo is on the horizon for 2028 and there are several rumored DCU games in development. For more upcoming releases, check out our breakdown of all the upcoming superhero movies and the upcoming DCU movies and shows you need to know about.

DC Studios has announced that production on The Batman 2 is going on hold as director Matt Reeves steps away for a personal issue.

"Production on The Batman Part II has been temporarily paused while Matt Reeves focuses on a family matter," the studio says in a statement provided to Deadline and others. "Matt has the full support of DC Studios and we look forward to continuing the journey soon."

The Batman 2 is set to be released on February 18, 2026. Deadline's sources say it's not yet clear whether the pause in production will affect the planned release date. The film had already been delayed multiple times over, as it was first planned to release back in 2025.

Filming for The Batman 2 was already underway, as evidenced by a host of recent set photos unveiling such details as a battle-damaged Batmobile, the new Batsuit, and an apparent appearance from the Court of Owls. Despite the set leaks, few official details about the movie's plot have been revealed, though Robert Pattinson describes it as a "radical retelling" of Batman.

Pattinson returns as the titular superhero, alongside Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as The Penguin. New additions to the cast include Sebastian Stan, who is widely expected to play Harvey Dent/Two-Face, alongside Scarlett Johansson, Charles Dance, Sebastian Koch, and Brian Tyree Henry.

To tide you over as the wait for The Batman 2 goes on, check out our ranking of the best Batman movies, and stay up-to-date with all the upcoming DC movies on the calendar.

James Gunn has been forced to cover for Man of Tomorrow's Frank Grillo after the Rick Flag Sr. actor reposted an unofficial cast poster which showed Adria Arjona as Wonder Woman.

"Is this an accidental tease or should we not read anything into it?" one fan asked on Threads, prompting Gunn – who has a long history of debunking reports on social media – into action.

"It's Frank reposting somebody because it has his photo in it and he loves himself," Gunn wrote. "I can assure you Frank doesn't know who Adria is playing in the DCU and whether or not she has any sort of incredibly small cameo in MoT or not. People have been making wayyyyyyyyyyy too much of this."

Gunn even, incredibly, followed up with a text message exchange with Grillo, wherein the actor 'fesses up to reposting it without realizing what a stir it would cause.

Ever since Arjona's casting in the DCU, fans – at the risk of putting two and two together and getting five – have been convinced that the actor is playing Wonder Woman.

Adding further fuel to the flames of speculation is Arjona herself, who confirmed in a recent interview that she was very much aware of which character she was auditioning for.

"I love my costume," Arjona said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, while also name-checking the two characters (Wonder Woman and Maxima) that she has been linked to in recent months.

Man of Tomorrow is a Superman sequel in all but name, though – and stars David Corenswet, Nicholas Hoult, and Rachel Brosnahan, alongside fellow DCU heroes such as Aaron Pierre's John Stewart.

For more on that character's journey into Man of Tomorrow, check out the Lanterns season 1 ending explainer and how it could set up a potential Lanterns season 2.

Despite being credited as the writer, Mike Flanagan is still yet to see Clayface. In fact, it seems like the horror legend's involvement in the movie ended a long time ago.

Speaking to Comic Book Movie in a new interview, Flanagan said the upcoming DCU movie is "not mine".

Asked about the differences between approaching his new Prime Video series Carrie and the adaptation of Clayface, Flanagan said: "[Carrie] was different because Clayface had never been adapted before outside of the animated series and in a lot of the animated work, but had never made it into a feature film and certainly never as the central character. And so Clayface for me felt kind of wide open. It was, we were the first to kind of get in and do that."

He then added: "Now that said, Clayface, you know, very much is not mine. It’s James Watkins’ movie. I wrote a script I loved and I turned it in and then that’s the last... I haven’t even seen it. I’m excited to see it and see what James did with it. But that’s James’ film, and I’m so excited to see what he made."

Clayface is directed by Speak No Evil helmer James Watkins and The Wings of the Dove screenwriter Hossein Amini also worked on the script. Flanagan originally pitched the idea of Clayface to DC Studios back in March 2023, but he then got busy working on his Carrie adaptation, meaning he couldn't direct.

The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an up-and-coming actor whose face is disfigured, leading him to find answers in a scientist played by Naomi Ackie. However, her solution ends up turning his body into clay.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows you need to know about.

Sean Gunn has shared his thoughts on Man of Tomorrow, and it sounds like the film is shaping up to be something special.

Gunn has a role in the DCU as Maxwell Lord, and he also played Kraglin and was the physical performer for Rocket Raccoon in the MCU.

"It weighs everything on it," Sean Gunn told ComicBook, when asked how Man of Tomorrow tips the scale between James Gunn's Marvel and DC movies. "Because I can tell you: I can't say anything about Man of Tomorrow in terms of what it's about or who's in it, or whatever. But I think it's okay that I can say that I've read it, and it's my favorite of all of them. So I'll be very curious to come back a year from now and talk to people about what they like the best."

But, Sean Gunn also stressed that he doesn't see the two sets of films as competing. "I also want to say: it's not a competition. I'm so proud of the Guardians movies and the role I played there, and I think that I root for all of them. You just want the stories to be good; you want the products to be good; you don't want to be like, 'This is better than that!' It's more like this is for the audience that loves this; and the audience that loves this [other franchise], loves this. And let's just keep trying to tell good stories and bring everybody into the fold."

Man of Tomorrow is a quasi-sequel to last summer's Superman, and it will see Clark Kent and Lex Luthor team up against Brainiac.

It arrives on July 9, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

It is spooky season, and that means a bunch of tense and thrilling new movies releasing in October, pals. In fact, October is one of the most packed months in terms of upcoming movies in 2026, with superhero outings, action, and some good ol' fashion horror as well. So, to help you pick your next cinema trip in a sea of silver screen hits, I've rounded up the top films that should be on your radar over the next few weeks.

From aquatic survival movies to even more upcoming video game movies following the success of Resident Evil, and the first full-blown horror movie in the DCU to get you into the Halloween spirit, I will say that October is a cinema-going goldmine. It is also great to see so many new stories that don't exist within a cinematic franchise yet, so if you are after something completely new, now is the time to visit your local cineplex.

Below are the top 5 movies releasing in October. I haven't put them in any particular order, as each offers something unique. Also, keep in mind that I'm sticking to just 5 in this list. If you want the full breakdown of the month in terms of releases (which includes the likes of Digger and more), head on over to our guide on all the 2026 movie release dates. But for now, keep reading to discover the bright stars of the month.

The best movies coming out in October 2026

Other Mommy

Release date: October 9, 2026
Where to watch: Cinemas

Directed by Rob Savage, Other Mommy looks very spooky and like the perfect film to help usher in Halloween season. The story sees Jessica Chastain play a mother who must protect her young daughter, Bela, from an evil entity who looks just like her. New horror has been on a roll lately with the likes of Obsession and the Backrooms, so I have high hopes for this flick. Also, as a big Coraline fan, I will say that the premise of having an evil spirit trying to get a kid by disguising itself as a parent intrigues me. If done right, we will be getting a psychological gut punch as well as some uneasy and terrifying sequences. Sign me up.

Matchbox: The Movie

Release date: October 9, 2026
Where to watch: Apple TV

If you aren't a big horror fan, don't worry; October isn't full of scares. In fact, Matchbox: The Movie is an action comedy starring the likes of John Cena and Jessica Biel, and will be released on Apple TV. Directed by Sam Hargrave of Extraction fame, this flick follows the story of the spy Sean Walker (Cena), who reunites with a group of his friends, only for them all to be kidnapped. Turns out Walker is being framed, and his mates are dragged into everything as well. So it's up to them to clear their names. The trailer does look action-packed and has a few one-liners. If you have an Apple TV subscription, I say Matchbox: The Movie seems like a great fun choice.

Street Fighter

Release date: October 16, 2026
Where to watch: Cinemas

Following the success of Resident Evil in September, we have another video game movie on the way, and it looks very fun from the trailers that I've seen already. The premise is simple: although estranged from each other, Ryu decides to enter the World Warrior Tournament to save Ken Masters. However, on top of the fights, there is some personal conflict to unpack here as well. I will say that Street Fighter doesn't exactly seem highbrow, but it does seem like a good time, and I've already spotted a few arcade references in the teasers too. So if you are looking for a popcorn flick, then this will be the one for you.

Whalefall

Release date: October 16, 2026
Where to watch: Cinemas

If you still have nightmares about the whale in Pinocchio, this may not be the film for you. However, if you love a survival thriller, especially those of the aquatic variety, then you need to put Whalefall on your radar. This movie follows a scuba diver who gets swallowed by a sperm whale and only has an hour to escape. Watching the trailer for this movie gave me anxiety in the best kind of way. Survival isn't going to come easy; the teasers look dark, it looks claustrophobic, and the tension makes me want to know how everything works out in the end. The story seems very simple, but I strongly believe it is going to be effective as well and have us all gripping the edges of our seats.

Clayface

Release date: October 23, 2026
Where to watch: Cinemas

Clayface is personally my most anticipated movie of October as a massive horror and DC fan. Directed by James Watkins and sporting a screenplay written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, the film is a body horror about a movie star who undergoes an experiment to restore his face after it was brutally disfigured. However, being a test subject doesn't go well, and he turns into a living bit of clay with some pretty gruesome consequences. This is still part of the DCU Chapter One plan, but it also looks like a wholly unique kind of superhero movie. Sign me up.

Want to know what other flicks are on the way? Next, read our round-ups of all the upcoming horror movies and upcoming superhero movies that have been confirmed so far.

Four weeks before Clayface hits the big screen, it looks like the movie's first popcorn bucket has leaked, and it's definitely in keeping with the DCU movie's body horror theme.

Unlike many rather impractical recent popcorn bucket designs, the Clayface bucket, which was shared on Twitter by a superhero fan page, is an actual bowl that looks like it can hold a decent amount of popcorn. But you'll have to watch out for the villain's gloopy hand rising from the bowl, which reminds us of the character's appearances in past animated DC projects such as Batman: The Animated Series and Creature Commandos. Check out the bucket below.

However, we can't help but notice that the bucket looks a lot like what you would use to dish out Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters, hand and all. In that case, it has arrived just in time. After you finish eating popcorn out of it when the movie hits screens on October 23, you can repurpose it just days later.

The bucket has yet to be posted by DC, Warner Bros., or any major theater chains at this point, so we don't know if it is legit just yet. Either way, it's a great design.

Directed by Eden Lake and Speak No Evil director James Watkins from a story written by The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan, Clayface follows Tom Rhys Harries as the rising Hollywood star Matt Hagen, who is brutally disfigured by a crime lord. Desperately wanting his old life back, Hagen undergoes an experimental medical trial which results in strange bodily changes, slowly turning him into a sloppy monster.

Though recent trailers have given us a taste of the level of gore in the new DCU flick, Watkins has stated that although the movie will show the villain's final form, we won't get to see the transformation ahead of time in any marketing materials.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23. For more, check out our guide on how to watch DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

Robert Pattinson has addressed fan hopes that his Batman could be the Caped Crusader in the new DCU, and he's not completely sold. The actor, who is currently filming The Batman 2, says he thinks his version can only exist in Matt Reeves' universe.

"I think it would be kind of tough to have this version of Bruce outside of [Reeves'] world," he said to LADbible. "It's one of the only characters I guess because of the length of the shoots but also it's such a specific kind of [style], the tone of it gets inside you."

Pattinson added: "I remember that happened to me the last time I did it, it took a while. You're just in the dark, the whole time. Both mood-wise and light-wise, I can't see anything for like months. It does affect you like you feel strange afterwards."

The relaunched DCU under James Gunn and Peter Safran does feature Batman, but they have not yet been officially cast. They appeared in animated form in Creature Commandos season 2 and were even referenced in HBO's Lanterns, but there is no actor attached yet.

Currently Pattinson's Batman exists in the DC's Elseworlds, which stand apart from the canon. Gunn has admitted they have thought about bringing him into the DCU, but it's not currently on the cards.

"I've said it before, we've talked about it before," he told Entertainment Tonight. "It's not what's happening right now. You know ... everything is in flux, so we'll figure out what we're doing next."

The DCU's Batman movie is The Brave and the Bold and is very much still in a development phase. Before we hear any more about that, Lanterns is coming to a close, Clayface is hitting theaters, and Man of Tomorrow arrives next year. For more, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

It looks like DC's upcoming animated feature Dynamic Duo is moving forward, as its lead characters Robin and Red Hood have reportedly been cast.

According to Deadline, Dynamic Duo has cast How to Train Your Dragon star Mason Thames as Dick Grayson and Ghostbusters: Afterlife's Logan Kim as Jason Todd, aka the two Robins. The rest of the voice cast includes The Running Man's Lee Pace as Red Hood One, and Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi as Red Hood Two.

The animated film is set to follow the two Robins who fought alongside Batman, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, telling their respective origin stories. Grayson is the Robin commonly associated with Batman and is also part of the supergroups Teen Titans and The Justice League. However, Todd, otherwise known as Red Hood, became the second Robin and Batman's sidekick after Grayson joined The New Teen Titans.

At the same time, the movie has been pushed back from its original June 30, 2028 release date to September 22, 2028. This is due to a Warner Bros. release date shake-up following its ongoing merger. As of now, it looks like Warner Bros. is being sold to Paramount, so Dynamic Duo may have been pushed back, as Paramount already has the Call of Duty movie releasing on June 30, 2028.

But, according to Deadline, Warner Bros. distribution believes that the new date will work in the DC film's favour, as it is "a good back-to-school animated feature slot for not just K-12 but also teens and college kids. The movie has the potential to hit the Spider-Verse crowd."

Dynamic Duo is not part of James Gunn's DCU Chapter One, but it is being made under The Batman director Matt Reeves' production company, 6th & Idaho. The script is written by Matthew Aldrich, with animation studio Swaybox's Arthur Mintz directing.

Dynamic Duo is set to release on September 22, 2028. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with new DC movies and shows on the way.

The final trailer for Clayface has arrived, and it gives us our best look yet at the upcoming DCU horror, including a glimpse of his final form.

The latest trailer focuses less on how Hagen becomes Clayface, and more on the violent, tragic aftermath. Evoking the likes of Joker, it's clear that Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) is a victim of tragic circumstances in a cruel and unforgiving Gotham, as his ability to change his appearance pushes him towards murderous villainy. Plenty of gnarly body horror too; if you don't wince at the sight of Hagen about to cut open his eye flaps (gross) with a pair of nail scissors on a bumpy flight, you're made of sterner stuff than us.

Clayface is the next film in the DCU Chapter One, and stars Tom Rhys Harries as the movie star turned shapeshifting gloop monster. In extended DC media, Clayface is typically depicted as a Batman villain, though the DCU could be doing things a little differently, as Hagen has already popped up in the canon DC animated series Creature Commandos (and, yes, they are the same character).

Clayface is something a little different for the DCU, as it's smaller scale and, by the looks of it, a great deal more unsettling than any DCU feature or show to date. Director James Watkins (who helmed the excellent Eden Lake, and the recent Speak No Evil remake) has cited Sam Raimi's Evil Dead movies as an inspiration, which is all we really need to hear.

While the trailer gives us our best look yet at Hagen's gloopy final form, don't expect a clear shot of Clayface to sneak out before release, as Watkins confirmed a couple of months back it won't appear in marketing materials. "You don't want to show the shark," Watkins said. "I think people give away too much… I believe in the power of mystery and the power of suggestion and the power of people putting two and two together. I think it's more fun." Harries, however, has confirmed that it indeed looks "fucking sick".

Clayface hits cinemas on October 23. For more, check out our guide on how to watch DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.