DC Studios has officially given the green light to a feature film based on Clayface, the iconic Batman villain known for his shapeshifting abilities. The film will be written by Mike Flanagan, the director behind Doctor Sleep, according to a source close to the project. While plot details remain under wraps, production is expected to begin early next year.
Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris will produce the film under their 6th & Idaho Productions banner.
Flanagan, who pitched the idea for a Clayface movie to DC Studios in 2023, had previously expressed interest in the project. In a 2021 tweet, he mentioned his desire to create a Clayface film with a focus on horror, thriller, and tragedy.
However, Flanagan is also busy with other major projects, including writing and directing a new take on The Exorcist for Universal, alongside Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, and developing a series adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie for Amazon MGM Studios. As a result, DC Studios is now seeking a director for the project, with an announcement expected soon.
Clayface, introduced in 1940, has evolved through various iterations. Initially depicted as a former actor turned criminal, the character’s shapeshifting powers were added in 1961. He has appeared in numerous live-action and animated adaptations, including Batman: The Animated Series (voiced by Ron Perlman), Gotham (portrayed by Brian McManamon), and the Harley Quinn animated series on Max (voiced by Alan Tudyk).
The Clayface movie marks the latest step in DC Studios’ broader strategy to explore a range of tones within its cinematic universe. James Gunn, co-chair of DC Studios, has emphasized the studio’s commitment to diverse storytelling. “We can make complete family fare, we can make something for general audiences, like Superman, and we can also make something violent and sexual,” Gunn recently told Variety. “It’s about creating a world where we can tell stories about different types of characters in various genres.”
The project signals that DC Studios is ready to embrace a wider range of genres and themes, broadening the scope of the DC Universe under Gunn and co-chair Peter Safran’s leadership.
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