The Horror Intensity In James Gunn's New R-Rated DC Movie With Batman Villain Revealed By Director

Published Jul 23, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT Clayface director James Watkins opened up about just how hard the new R-rated DC movie will go on the horror. Following Supergirl’s release at the end of June, Clayface is arriving in October as the third cinematic entry in the James Gunn-supervised DC Universe. Unlike Supergirl and last year’s Superman, this spotlight on the shapeshifting Batman villain is rated R and functions as a body horror movie rather than a straightforward superhero story. Now, Watkins has delved into the kind of intensity fans can expect from Clayface. While speaking with ScreenRant's Ash Crossan at San Diego Comic-Con, the filmmaker referenced a scene in the latest Clayface trailer where Tom Blyth’s Matt Hagen goes to cut some skin off his eye with a pair of cuticle scissors after seeing his altered face in the mirror of an airplane bathroom. Watkins said that this sequence “goes quite a little further than what you see, but then there's also other sequences that probably go further than that sequence.” He continued: But I don't want people grossed out. Momentarily, maybe, but it's got to be a pleasure. It can't be grim. It can't be tolerating something. It's got to be a joy in it, a collective joy. So you try and calibrate it because people have different tolerances for things. Watkins described the tonal balance he and the Clayface team tried to achieve by being on “the hardest roller coaster that people can go on, but you don't want them falling out their seats to their deaths. It's important that they enjoy the ride.” The director also mentioned that when he was approached for Clayface, he gave a “gave a very clear pitch” on what he thought this “world should be” and where to “take the character,” and body horror was a key component. This will be the second time Clayface has been depicted in the DCU, as Alan Tudyk voiced him in Creature Commandos season 1. However, the Clayface movie is turning the clock back to show how Blyth’s Hagen, an up-and-coming actor, was transformed into this being of living clay. Moviegoers will see this version of the character have his face disfigured by a gangster, prompting him to seek out experimental treatment to restore his looks. Blyth is joined in the upcoming DC movie by Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlin Corr and Max Minghella as Gotham City police detective John Borelli, as well as Eddie Marsan, David Dencik, Nancy Carroll, Joshua James, Francesca Corney, Ruby Sear, and Wil Coban. Originally, Mike Flanagan, who wrote the original Clayface script, was going to direct the movie as well, but he dropped out due to scheduling issues with The Exorcist: Martyrs and Prime Video’s Carrie miniseries. This prompted Watkins’ hiring, and Hossein Amini was later tapped to rewrite the script. Clayface opens in theaters on October 11, the same day as Klara and the Sun and Wildwood, among other movies. Ahead of that release, the DCU will continue with the HBO series Lanterns, which premieres on Sunday, August 16. Release Date October 23, 2026 Director James Watkins Writers Mike Flanagan, Hossein Amini, Bill Finger, Bob Kane Cast Tom Rhys Harries Matt Hagen / Clayface Naomi Ackie Dr. Caitlin Bates