James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Studios, have confirmed the upcoming Clayface movie will be canon within the DC Universe (DCU) and receive an R rating. Clayface, a long-time Batman adversary with the ability to alter his clay-like body, first appeared as Basil Karlo in Detective Comics #40 (1940). His power allows him to shapeshift into anyone or anything.

DC Studios announced a September 11, 2026 release date for the film last month. The project reportedly stemmed from the success of HBO's The Penguin series. Horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan penned the script, 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," with Safran clarifying that Reeves' saga encompasses only the Batman trilogy and The Penguin series, remaining under DC Studios' umbrella. They emphasized the importance of Clayface within the DCU, describing it as an origin story for a classic villain. Gunn noted Clayface wouldn't fit the grounded tone of Reeves' work, stating it's "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 scheduled to begin this summer. Safran described Clayface as an "incredible body horror film" revealing a compelling origin story, adding it to the slate based on Flanagan's exceptional screenplay. He highlighted the film's potential, stating, "Clayface might not be as widely known as The Penguin or The Joker, but we really feel that his story is equally resonant, compelling, and in many ways, more terrifying than one of those."

Safran characterized Clayface as experimental, unlike a traditional superhero film, describing it as an "indie style chiller." Gunn further elaborated, calling it "pure f***ing horror, like, totally real. Their version of that movie, it is so real and true and psychological and body horror and gross." Gunn confirmed the film's R rating, adding that if presented with Flanagan's script five years prior, they would have eagerly produced it, praising its body horror elements and considering its inclusion in the DCU a bonus.