James Gunn Explains Why the Clayface Movie Had to Be a Part of the DCU and Not Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga

James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-CEOs of DC Studios, have confirmed that the upcoming Clayface film will be canon within the DC Universe (DCU) and will receive an R rating.

Clayface, a long-standing Batman adversary, possesses the ability to alter his clay-like body, enabling him to transform into anyone or anything. The character's first iteration, Basil Karlo, debuted in Detective Comics #40 (1940).

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

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During a DC Studios presentation to IGN, Gunn and Safran explained Clayface's inclusion in the DCU, differentiating it from Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Gunn confirmed, "Clayface is totally DCU." Safran clarified, "The only thing that's in Matt's world…is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series…still under DC Studios, but those are the only things. It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It's an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world.”

Gunn noted Clayface's incompatibility with the grounded tone of Reeves' saga: "It was very outside of the grounded non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world.”

DC Studios is reportedly finalizing negotiations with James Watkins (Speak No Evil) to direct. Filming is slated to begin this summer. Safran stated, “This summer, cameras are going to roll on Clayface, an incredible body horror film…another title…added to the slate on the strength of an exceptional screenplay by Mike Flanagan.” He added that while Clayface might be less familiar than The Penguin or The Joker, "we really feel that his story is equally resonant, compelling, and in many ways, more terrifying."

Safran described Clayface as "experimental," an "indie style chiller," not a traditional superhero film. Gunn called it "pure f***ing horror…totally real…psychological and body horror and gross.” He confirmed the R rating, adding that if presented with the script five years prior, they "would have died to have produced this movie."