James Gunn on Why Clayface Joins DCU, Not Reeves' Batman Saga

DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran have officially confirmed that the upcoming *Clayface* film is fully integrated into the new DC Universe (DCU) canon—and it will carry an R rating. The movie centers around the iconic Batman villain, a former Gotham City criminal named Basil Karlo who transforms into a shapeshifting clay-like being, capable of morphing into anyone or anything. First introduced in *Detective Comics #40* (1940), Clayface has long been one of Batman’s most grotesque and enduring adversaries.

The film is set for release on September 11, 2026, and its development reportedly gained momentum following the critical and commercial success of HBO’s *The Penguin* series. Horror director Mike Flanagan (*Doctor Sleep*, *Midnight Mass*) is attached as writer, with Lynn Harris producing alongside *The Batman* director Matt Reeves. While Reeves remains involved in a producer role, the project firmly falls under the DCU banner rather than the separate *Batman Epic Crime Saga* universe overseen by Reeves.

Clayface Is Officially Part of the DCU

During a recent DC Studios presentation covered by IGN, Gunn and Safran clarified the distinction between the DCU and Reeves’ *Batman* world. “Clayface is totally DCU,” Gunn stated. Safran added, “The only things in Matt's world—his *Epic Crime Saga*—are the *Batman* trilogy and *The Penguin* series. Everything else, including *Clayface*, belongs to the broader DCU.”

Gunn emphasized that the more supernatural and horror-driven nature of *Clayface* made it unsuitable for the grounded tone of Reeves’ *Batman* universe. “It was very outside of the grounded, non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world,” Gunn explained. “Clayface needed to be part of the DCU—a place where we can explore darker, more fantastical stories.”

Production Details and Creative Vision

Safran also revealed that negotiations are currently underway with *Speak No Evil* director James Watkins to helm *Clayface*. Filming is expected to begin this summer, with casting to follow once the director deal is finalized. The film is scheduled for a fall 2026 release.

Described as both “experimental” and an “indie-style chiller,” *Clayface* departs from the traditional superhero blockbuster formula. According to Safran, the film explores the psychological and physical horrors of the character’s transformation, making it a deeply unsettling origin story. Gunn echoed this sentiment, calling it “pure f***ing horror—real, psychological, body horror, and really gross.”

An Unconventional Addition to the DCU

While Clayface may not be as widely recognized as villains like Joker or Penguin, Safran believes his story holds equal emotional weight and terror. “We feel that his story is just as resonant and compelling—and in many ways, more terrifying—than some of the more well-known villains,” he said.

Gunn further elaborated, explaining how the concept of *Clayface* aligns with his and Safran’s earlier creative sensibilities: “One of the things we talked about when we first read the script is how, if we were producing movies five years ago—back when we were doing *The Belko Experiment* and similar projects—and someone had brought us a horror script called *Clayface* about this guy, we would’ve jumped at the chance to produce it. It’s a fantastic body horror screenplay, and the fact that it’s part of the DCU is just an added bonus.”