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 will be canon within the DCU and receive an R-rating.

Clayface, a notorious Gotham City criminal with shape-shifting abilities, is a long-standing adversary of Batman. The character's first iteration, Basil Karlo, debuted in Detective Comics #40 (1940).

DC Studios announced a September 11, 2026 release date last month. This decision reportedly followed the success of HBO's The Penguin series. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan penned the screenplay, with Lynn Harris producing alongside The Batman director Matt Reeves.

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Gunn and Safran, speaking at a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, explained Clayface's inclusion in the main DCU continuity, rather than Matt Reeves' The Batman universe.

"Clayface is entirely DCU," Gunn stated. Safran added, "Matt's world, his Crime Saga, encompasses only the Batman trilogy and The Penguin series. It's still under DC Studios, but those are the only projects within that specific continuity. We have a great relationship with Matt."

"It was crucial that Clayface be part of the DCU. It's an origin story for a classic Batman villain we wanted in our universe," Gunn emphasized. He further explained that Clayface wouldn't have fit the grounded tone of Reeves' films. "It was too far removed from the grounded, non-superpowered metahuman characters in Matt's world," Gunn noted.

Safran confirmed ongoing negotiations with Speak No Evil director James Watkins, indicating a near-certain deal. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer.

"This summer, cameras roll on Clayface, a gripping body horror film showcasing a compelling origin story for a classic Batman villain. We added this to our lineup based on Mike Flanagan's exceptional script," Safran announced. He continued, "We're negotiating with James Watkins to direct, and casting will commence once the directorial deal is finalized. It's slated for a fall 2026 release. While Clayface may not be as well-known as The Penguin or The Joker, we believe his story is equally compelling, and in many ways, more terrifying."

Safran described Clayface as "experimental," differentiating it from typical superhero blockbusters, calling it an "indie-style chiller." Gunn described it as "pure f***ing horror, totally real. Their version is so realistic, psychological, and intensely body horror."

Gunn confirmed the R-rating, stating, "Peter and I discussed the script; if we were producing films five years ago, during the Belko Experiment era, and someone pitched this horror script, we'd have jumped at the chance. It's an excellent body horror script, and its inclusion in the DCU is a bonus."