Fresh off the success of the HBO series The Penguin, DC Studios has officially approved a feature film centered around Clayface, the shapeshifting Batman villain.
The script comes from filmmaker Mike Flanagan, known for Doctor Sleep, according to a source with direct knowledge of the production. While plot details remain under wraps, filming is slated to commence early next year.
The project will be produced by Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris through their 6th & Idaho Productions banner.
Flanagan initially pitched DC Studios on a Clayface project in 2023, expressing his interest in a 2021 tweet where he described his vision for a standalone Clayface film as a “horror/thriller/tragedy.”
However, Flanagan is currently committed to other high-profile projects, including writing and directing a reimagining of The Exorcist for Universal, in collaboration with Blumhouse and Morgan Creek.
He is also developing a series adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie for Amazon MGM Studios. Consequently, DC Studios is in the process of securing a director for the project, with an announcement expected soon.
Clayface, one of Batman’s earliest foes, first appeared in 1940 as a disgraced actor who resorted to crime, donning the claylike mask of a character he once portrayed.
The character’s iconic shapeshifting powers were introduced in 1961, and Clayface has since been featured in numerous live-action and animated adaptations.
Notable portrayals include Ron Perlman in the 1990s animated series Batman: The Animated Series, Brian McManamon in the Fox series Gotham during the 2010s, and Alan Tudyk in the animated comedy Harley Quinn on Max.
The greenlight for a Clayface film signifies DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran’s commitment to exploring diverse storytelling tones within the DC Universe.
Gunn recently elaborated on this vision during an interview with Variety, while discussing the animated series Creature Commandos, the first official title in the restructured DC Universe.
“One of the main things I want to establish is that you can do anything at DC Studios,” Gunn said. “We can create family-friendly fare, general audience stories like Superman, or projects that are violent and mature, like this. It’s about building a world where we can use a single character in different genres.”
