Was ‘Clayface’ the Blueprint? Gunn and Safran Reportedly Wanted More Low-Budget DC Horror Before Their Exit

DC’s horror experiment has become one of the more interesting stories of the studio’s recent run. ‘Clayface’ took a big risk for DC Studios with an R-rated body horror film about a Batman villain, and it has paid off in ways the studio’s bigger releases have not.

The timing makes that success bittersweet. James Gunn and Peter Safran are leaving DC Studios on December 1, with former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham taking over as president and chief creative officer. In their statement, the outgoing pair listed ‘Clayface’ among the projects they were proud of, alongside ‘Peacemaker’, ‘Creature Commandos’ and ‘Lanterns’.

Now we know what they had hoped to do next. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn and Safran had been enjoying the modest success of ‘Clayface’ before their exit, and there was even talk of making more “spooky, slimmed-down DC movies.”

The film itself is the case for that strategy. The R-rated body horror reached about $109 million worldwide on a $44 million budget. That total breaks down to a reported $56.6 million domestically and $52.4 million internationally, which pushed it past its break-even point.

The final trailer for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’ has been released. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/ecTMB97Sto

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 24, 2026

The film had a clear creative identity. James Watkins directed from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Tom Rhys Harries starring as Matt Hagen, a Hollywood actor left disfigured after a mob-orchestrated attack who turns to an experimental procedure that goes horribly wrong. Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik and Eddie Marsan round out the cast.

It started strong. ‘Clayface’ opened at No. 1 with $43 million worldwide, and it held the global top spot for 2 consecutive weeks. Critics were mostly positive. The film opened to mixed but mostly positive reviews, with a 75% Rotten Tomatoes score and a near-perfect 94% audience score. Reviews broadly praised Harries and the gruesome practical effects, though some critics wanted more depth.

The comparison with DC’s summer release is hard to ignore. ‘Supergirl’ grossed $126.4 million worldwide against a reported $186 million net production budget. Even ‘Superman’, which earned $618 million worldwide, came with a much bigger price tag.

New posters for DC’s ‘CLAYFACE’. In theaters on October 23. https://t.co/2DA3HTeKUQ

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 7, 2026

For a studio that needs wins, the math favors smaller bets. One release asked audiences to show up for another large-scale superhero adventure, while the other gave them a horror movie with a DC character at its center and a much smaller production bill.

The bigger question is whether DC’s new leadership will continue the approach. ‘Swamp Thing’, which was also in development, is part of the same horror-leaning side of Gunn’s plan. Since it costs less to make and delivered DC’s best recent return, Latcham may decide to keep this darker lane alive.

Latcham’s reputation suggests a different focus, though. The Hollywood Reporter’s sources describe him as someone focused on making crowd-pleasing hits and getting people into theaters. They also said his tastes are more in line with Skydance chief David Ellison’s broader sensibilities than Gunn’s preference for lesser-known characters.

For now, ‘Clayface’ stands as proof that DC doesn’t need a massive budget to make money. Whether it becomes a template for future films or remains a one-off experiment is now up to the new regime.

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