DC Studios has released the first teaser for Clayface, giving audiences a stark look at one of its most unsettling upcoming films.
The footage centers on an aspiring actor, played by Tom Rhys Harries, who suffers a brutal facial disfigurement at the hands of a gangster. With no options left, he seeks out a scientist, played by Naomi Ackie. She performs an experimental procedure that transforms his body into living clay.
Filmmakers Lean Into Body Horror
Director James Watkins drives the film’s disturbing tone, building on his work in Speak No Evil. Mike Flanagan wrote the script with Hossein Amini, shaping the story around psychological tension and physical transformation.
James Gunn said the project came together unexpectedly. “We had no plans to make a Clayface movie,” he explained. The studio moved forward after Flanagan delivered what Gunn called “one of the best scripts that we’ve read.”
A Villain Story Anchored in Reality
The film explores the origin of a Batman villain, much like Joker. It is expected to carry an R rating. Unlike that film and its sequel, Clayface will connect directly to the larger DC Universe.
Peter Safran pointed to the character’s impact. “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,” he said.
Gunn reinforced the tone. He said the film will feel “totally real” and described it as “true and psychological and body horror and gross.”
Clayface will open in theaters on Oct. 23, positioning the film to capitalize on the Halloween season.
