TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - DC Studios has unveiled the first official trailer for Clayface, offering a chilling glimpse into the upcoming DC Universe (DCU) horror film that reimagines one of Batman’s most iconic villains.
As reported by AOL, the film embraces a body horror approach, capturing what many describe as the “perfect tone” for the story. Directed by James Watkins and co-written by horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as the titular character, marking a darker shift in DC’s expanding cinematic universe.
The film follows the transformation of Matt Hagen, a rising Hollywood actor whose life takes a terrifying turn. According to a report by Entertainment Weekly, the trailer introduces Hagen as a performer who is brutally disfigured before undergoing a risky medical procedure in an attempt to restore his appearance. Instead, the experiment turns him into Clayface—a shape-shifting figure made of living clay.
The preview leans heavily into horror elements, featuring unsettling imagery such as Hagen’s face melting and reforming, and his body morphing into weapons. One sequence shows his arm transforming into a spiked mace, underscoring the film’s intense body horror theme. Other scenes depict him in distress across various settings, including an airplane bathroom and city streets, as he struggles with his rapidly deteriorating identity.
The official synopsis, as cited by AOL, describes the story as a descent into madness, exploring themes of lost identity, corrosive love, and the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition. The film aims to balance spectacle with psychological depth, portraying not just a villain’s origin, but the human tragedy behind it.
Set in Gotham City, the footage also hints at connections to the broader Batman universe, though the iconic hero has yet to be cast in this iteration of the DCU. Supporting cast members include Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, and Joshua James.
The project originated from an idea pitched by Mike Flanagan, known for his work in the horror genre, including The Haunting of Hill House and Doctor Sleep. According to Entertainment Weekly, DC Studios co-head James Gunn initially did not plan to develop a Clayface film, but was convinced after hearing Flanagan’s concept, describing it as a unique body-horror take within the superhero universe.
"Mike Flanagan is somebody who I've been friendly with for a long time, and he wrote me about Clayface," James Gunn, the co-head of DC Studios, previously told Entertainment Weekly in a June 2025 interview.
"He texted me about it really early on in my DC journey. Just being honest, I did not think that was something that was going to happen, but he came in, and he pitched the idea, and I was like, 'Oh s---! That's cool.' It's a body-horror movie. It's a horror movie that, like any cool body-horror movie, just happens to be in the DCU. And then he wrote the script, and the script was fantastic. We did not plan to do Clayface. That was really something he brought to us," Gunn explained.
Clayface represents a notable departure from DC’s recent projects, which have ranged from traditional superhero narratives to cosmic adventures and crime dramas. The film is expected to bring a fresh, horror-driven perspective to the franchise.
The movie is scheduled for theatrical release on October 23, positioning it as one of the most anticipated genre crossovers in the DC lineup this year.
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