Plot Revealed for DCU’s Upcoming ‘Clayface’ Movie Starring Tom Rhys Harries

The upcoming Clayface movie from DC Studios is starting to take shape, and new details have given fans a clearer picture of what to expect. The film, which is set to release on September 11, 2026, will star Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role and will be one of the first major solo projects of the new DC Universe era under James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Back in March 2023, filmmaker Mike Flanagan and his producing partner Trevor Macy pitched a unique idea to Gunn and Safran. They wanted to do a Clayface movie that didn’t treat the character like a typical comic book villain.

At that time, it wasn’t clear whether the film would be part of the main DC Universe or if it would be released under the “Elseworlds” banner. It also came around the same time there were rumors Clayface might appear in Matt Reeves’s The Batman: Part II.

By December 2024, DC gave the greenlight to the film, officially making it part of the main DC Universe. Flanagan wrote the script, and DC Studios co-head Peter Safran compared the tone to David Cronenberg’s 1986 body horror film The Fly. Safran said the story will have a similar emotional structure and transformation-based horror, just like the one where Jeff Goldblum’s character slowly morphs after a scientific experiment gone wrong.

While Flanagan had to step away from directing due to his other projects—like a new Exorcist film and a Carrie miniseries—James Watkins, best known for directing Speak No Evil, was brought in to take over. Hossein Amini is working on a new draft of the script, and production is set to start in August 2025 at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in England.

The movie tells the story of a rising actor in Hollywood whose career is cut short after his face is horribly disfigured by a gangster. Desperate to save what’s left of his life and career, he turns to a mysterious scientist who promises to help.

At first, the experimental treatment seems to work. But things quickly go wrong, and the actor begins to transform, eventually becoming made entirely of clay. It’s a mix of horror and tragedy, and definitely not your usual superhero movie.

According to sources who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, the film’s budget is set somewhere in the mid-$40 million range. That’s fairly modest for a comic book film, but it makes sense given the story’s horror tone and character-driven plot.

One of the newer updates is that Naomi Ackie, known for her roles in Mickey 17 and Blink Twice, is in early talks to join the cast. She recently took part in script reading sessions in England, and insiders say she’s the top choice for a key role. Talks are expected to begin soon, but no official announcement has been made yet.

Tom Rhys Harries, who was confirmed in June 2025 to play the lead, will be the first live-action Clayface of this new DC Universe. Alan Tudyk, who voices the character in Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos, won’t be involved in this version, as his main role in the DCU is elsewhere.

Matt Reeves, who’s still working on The Batman: Part II, will serve as a producer on Clayface alongside Lynn Harris through his 6th & Idaho banner. Gunn and Safran are also on board as producers, giving the film strong backing from all corners of DC’s leadership.

With horror elements, a dark emotional story, and a fresh take on a long-standing villain, Clayface is shaping up to be one of the most surprising early projects in the new DC lineup, arriving even before heroes like Wonder Woman get their turn.

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