James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe is expanding once more, as a brand-new villain movie has just been announced. We don’t know who Gunn and Safran have cast as the DCU’s Batman, but we’re slowly learning how many villains he could go up against in the rebooted franchise. A Deathstroke/Bane crossover movie was announced last month, but the latest villain to officially get a standalone film is far more fantastical. Shapeshifting antagonist Clayface is finally making his big-screen, live-action debut – and DC has hired the perfect writer for the job.
Clayface is the next character to get a standalone movie in the new DC Universe. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan is penning the script for DC Studios. A director has not yet been found, but according to Deadline, DC Studios has set a Sept. 11, 2026 release date for the movie, signaling the studio’s confidence in finding the right director to adapt Flanagan’s script.

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Debuting in Detective Comics #40 in 1940, Clayface is DC Comics’ original shapeshifter. The mantel has been held by many characters, but Basil Karlo is the most popular. Karlo was an acclaimed actor who used a poisonous chemical to preserve his face following a car crash. The chemical fused with his DNA, allowing him to shapeshift – an ability he used to become one of the most powerful criminals in Gotham City.
Mike Flanagan should be no stranger to horror fans. The writer/director is behind the vastly underappreciated Stephen King sequel, Doctor Sleep, as well as The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and The Fall of the House of Usher for Netflix, among many more acclaimed projects. Flanagan has long expressed an interest in bringing Clayface to the big screen. In a now deleted tweet from 2021, Flanagan pitched his idea for a Clayface film, describing it as a “horror/thriller/tragedy.” Flanagan’s movie has reportedly been in the works since 2023, and sources claim the film will not present Clayface as a villain. The movie could either tell the origins of Clayface, or explore his life after leaving crime behind, where Clayface worked as one of Batman’s closest allies.
Clayface Was Almost ‘The Batman Part II’s Villain

Clayface is certainly one of DC Comics’ more fantastical characters, thanks to his sludgy appearance, thespian demeanor, and shapeshifting abilities. But, he almost appeared in Matt Reeves’ incredibly grounded The Batman universe. Shortly after the release of The Batman in 2022, reports were released suggesting that Clayface would be the main antagonist in The Batman Part II.
Matt Reeves shut down this rumor when he explained The Batman universe won’t feature any magical villains. Reeves’ comment also ruled out foes like Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze, who were all rumored to be appearing. Fans now believe the main villain will be the Court of Owls, following a string of Easter eggs found in HBO’s The Penguin series. Other potential candidates include Colin Farrel’s Oz Cobb, Barry Keoghan’s Joker, or new faces like the crime boss Black Mask, Victor Zsasz, or even Deathstroke.

Clayface hits theaters on Sept. 11, 2026.