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Draft:Clayface (film)

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Clayface
Written byMike Flanagan
Based onCharacters from DC
Produced by
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • September 11, 2026 (2026-09-11)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budgetapprox. $40 million[1]

Clayface is an upcoming American superhero film based on the eponymous character from DC Comics. Produced by DC Studios and 6th & Idaho Productions, and to be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the third film in the DC Universe (DCU). The film is written by Mike Flanagan.

Flanagan had discussed a Clayface film with DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran in March 2023, after previously expressing interest in making the film. The film and Flanagan's involvement were confirmed in December 2024. Filming is expected to begin in early 2025.

Clayface is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on September 11, 2026.

Production

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Development

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Filmmaker Mike Flanagan expressed interest in January 2021 in making a standalone film focused on the DC Comics character Clayface as a "horror/thriller/tragedy".[2][3] Flanagan, a fan of the Batman: The Animated Series (1992–95) episodes featuring Clayface,[1] had previously discussed making a "horror-leaning" iteration of the character, among other properties, for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) franchise in a general meeting with DC Films producer Jon Berg. Flanagan felt the meeting "kind of went nowhere",[4][3] saying that DC did not "bite on" his idea but that he was ready to commit to the project "anytime".[5] By October 2022, filmmaker Matt Reeves was meeting with directors and writers for several films and television series to spin-off from his standalone DC film The Batman (2022) that were in early development and centered on members of Batman's rogues gallery, such as Clayface.[6] In March 2023, Flanagan and his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy met with DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran regarding a Clayface film, in which he would not be the villain that he typically is portrayed as in the comics. If the film were to move forward, it was unclear at the time if it would be part of the DC Universe (DCU), the successor franchise to the DCEU, or be released under the "DC Elseworlds" label; Reeves's The Batman – Part II (2026) was also expected to feature the character,[3] but Flanagan did not pitch his version for that film.[7] Flanagan said the report of him pitching a Clayface film by then was "entirely speculative",[8] further stating in late May that such a film was not in development and that he was participating in the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike that began earlier that month.[9] The film was reportedly in development by August with Flanagan as writer and director and Reeves, Gunn, and Safran serving as producers.[10] Alan Tudyk voiced Clayface in the DCU animated series Creature Commandos (2024–present), after previously voicing a different version of the character in the series Harley Quin (2019–present).[11]

In December 2024, DC Studios greenlit the Clayface film for the DCU with a script written by Flanagan and a release date of September 11, 2026.[12][13][14] Gunn explained that a Clayface project had not been planned, but he had been impressed by Flanagan's take on the character after submitting multiple drafts of the script, that he decided to green light the project and find a way to incorporate it into the larger DCU plans.[14] Reeves was confirmed to be producing alongside Lynn Harris of his company 6th & Idaho Productions. Filming was expected to begin in early 2025, and the studio was searching for a director while Flanagan was committed to his The Exorcist film (2026) and a Carrie television series.[12][7] The film was intended to be produced on an approximate $40 million budget.[1] Safran said the film would not have a campy tone and instead compared it to the 1986 film The Fly.[15]

Filming

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Principal photography is expected to begin in early 2025.[12]

Release

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Clayface is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on September 11, 2026.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (December 13, 2024). "Heat Vision". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Dick, Jeremy (January 9, 2021). "Doctor Sleep Director Is Keen on Making a Standalone Clayface Movie". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony; Grobar, Matt (March 29, 2023). "Mike Flanagan Pitches Pic On Clayface To Warner Bros DC – The Dish". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  4. ^ Miller, Leon (March 16, 2023). "Midnight Mass Creator Mike Flanagan Pitched a Clayface DCEU Movie". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  5. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (October 7, 2021). "Midnight Mass Boss Is Ready to Shoot His Clayface Film Whenever DC Asks". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (October 17, 2022). "DC at a Turning Point: James Gunn Pitches Secret Movie, Dwayne Johnson Flexes His Superman Power (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Garner, Glenn; D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 11, 2024). "DC Studios' 'Clayface' Being Written By Mike Flanagan". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  8. ^ Jackson, Gordon; Codega, Lina (March 30, 2023). "Mike Flanagan Wants to Direct a Standalone Batman Villain Film". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Flangan, Mike [@flanaganfilm] (May 27, 2023). "I've already commented about this. And at the moment, no development is happening anywhere – I am a member of the WGA, and I am on strike" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 28, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Browski, Rich (August 17, 2023). "Production Weekly – Issue 1363 – Thursday, August 17, 2023 / 144 Listings – 31 Pages". Production Weekly. No. 1363 (published August 16, 2023). p. 6. Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (November 19, 2024). "Alan Tudyk Plays Clayface in DC's Creature Commandos and Possibly 2025's Superman Movie". IGN. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Vary, Adam B. (December 11, 2024). "'Clayface' Movie Officially Underway at DC Studios With Mike Flanagan Writing". Variety. Archived from the original on December 12, 2024. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  13. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 13, 2024). "DC Studios Dates 'Clayface' For Fall 2026; Animated 'Dynamic Duo' For 2028". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Lussier, Germain (December 20, 2024). "James Gunn Explains How the Clayface Movie Seemed to Happen so Fast". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Davis, Brandon [@BrandonDavisBD] (December 19, 2024). "DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran told me after the #Superman Q&A that the Clayface movie is currently looking for a director and will start filming early next year. He said it's not campy, it's DC's The Fly" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024 – via Twitter.
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