James Gunn Explains Why the Clayface Movie Had to Be a Part of the DCU and Not Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga

DCU co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran have confirmed the upcoming Clayface film as a DCU canon entry, boasting an R-rating. The movie, slated for a September 11, 2026 release, centers on the notorious Gotham City villain with the power of shapeshifting.

Clayface, specifically Basil Karlo in his first iteration, is a long-standing adversary of Batman, first appearing in Detective Comics #40 (1940). The project's development reportedly followed the success of HBO's "The Penguin" series. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan penned the screenplay, with Lynn Harris producing alongside Matt Reeves, director of "The Batman."

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Gunn and Safran, in a DC Studios presentation to IGN, emphasized Clayface's distinct placement within the DCU, separate from Matt Reeves' "The Batman Epic Crime Saga." The Batman trilogy and "The Penguin" series remain exclusive to Reeves' cinematic universe, while Clayface represents a unique addition to the broader DCU.

"Clayface is totally DCU," Gunn stated. Safran added, "The only things in Matt's world are the Batman Trilogy and the Penguin series...We have a great relationship with Matt, but those are the only things." The decision to include Clayface in the DCU stemmed from a desire to incorporate a classic Batman villain's origin story into their overarching narrative. Gunn noted Clayface's unsuitable tone for Reeves' more grounded approach, describing it as "very outside of the grounded non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world."

Negotiations with "Speak No Evil" director James Watkins to helm the project are reportedly nearing completion, with filming anticipated to commence this summer. Safran described Clayface as an "experimental" and "indie style chiller," a departure from traditional superhero fare. Gunn further characterized it as "pure f***ing horror," emphasizing its realistic, psychological, and body horror elements.

The R-rating was confirmed by Gunn, highlighting the film's intense nature. He expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating that if presented with the script five years prior, they would have eagerly produced it regardless of its DCU connection.