DC’sClayfacemovie finds its director as the villain-centeredDCUproject advances in production. Set to release on June 05, 2025,the DCU’s upcomingClayfacemoviewill follow the titular shapeshifting character, who was previously introduced in animated form inCreature Commandosepisode 5.Clayfacewill be DC’s next live-action project based on a single villain after Lauren LeFranc’sThe Penguinand Todd Phillips’Joker, though it will be the first project of this kind in James Gunn’s DCU. While the DCU’s Batman could appear inClayface,Clayfaceis more likely to be a standalone story.
Almost exactly one year and a half beforeClayface’s scheduled release date,THRreports thatClayfacehas officially found its director inSpeak No Evil’s James Watkins. Watkins joins writer Mike Flanagan, producer Matt Reeves, and DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, all of whom will oversee their respective areas ofClayface’s development and production. Whether voice Actor Alan Tudyk will reprise hisCreature Commandosrole is yet to be confirmed.
What DC’s Clayface Movie Director Update Means
Director James Watkins Will Likely Inject His Horror Skills Into The DCU’s Clayface
James Watkins wrote and directed the 2024 movie psychological horrorSpeak No Evil, which reached an 83% critics score and an 84% audience score onRotten Tomatoes. Watkins also wrote 2012’sThe Woman in Blackstarring Daniel Radcliffe andThe Descent Part 2after his directorial debut in 2008 withEden Lake, starring Michael Fassbender. Watkins also directedBlack Mirrorseason 3 episode 3, “Shut Up and Dance.” Needless to say,James Watkins has a knack for horror, which will come in handy forClayface’s body horror themes.
Our Take On DC’s Clayface Movie Director Update
Clayface Will Likely Be A Dark DCU Movie
James Watkins’ horror skills will be enhanced by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, who has built an impressive filmography that includes hits such asHush,Doctor Sleep,The Haunting of Hill House, andThe Haunting of Bly Manor. James Gunn also has experience in horror, having worked with Zack Snyder on 2004’sDawn of the Dead; and Peter Safran has produced every installment ofThe Conjuringfranchise.If any DCU project is almost guaranteed to have a well-defined tone, it’s certainlyClayface.
Casting Clayface For A Live-Action Movie (The Batman 2 or DC Universe)
Clayface could appear as a major villain in Batman: The Brave and the Bold or The Batman - Part II, with a wealth of options for possible performers.
However,Clayfacemay not be a full-fledged horror movie. Clayface’s origin story could be a tragic one, as shown byBatman: The Animated Series, which presents a version of the villain who gets manipulated into altering his appearance, resulting in disfigurement. The DCU’sClayfacecould take an empathetic approach to its protagonist similarly to Todd Phillips’Joker, but also set up his future villain role, similar to Lauren LeFranc’sThe Penguin.
