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The new DC Universe is well underway, with "Creature Commandos" having already premiered on Max and James Gunn's "Superman" hitting theaters this summer. But it's not just the obvious DC Comics A-listers making their way to the big screen in the new Dcu, as some interesting, lesser-known characters are going to take the spotlight as well. One key example is "Clayface," a new movie that is set to arrive next year and will focus on the "Batman" villain of the same name. While no actor has been cast as of this writing, the perfect candidate has just emerged.

/Film's Bj Colangelo recently spoke with David Dastmalchian in honor of his new Apple TV+ series "Murderbot." The actor stars in the show as Gurathin, a human who has been augmented with a feed interface, meaning he has distinct advantages when it comes to interpreting and hacking computers. When asked what...

The whole Clayface movie announcement feels a bit like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat before even showing you the hat. With Superman barely out of his metaphorical cradle (arriving in theaters this July), DC Studios—perplexingly, if not provocatively—hit the gas on a solo film centered on Clayface: a shape-shifting Batman antagonist.

On paper, the timing is a head-scratcher. The new Batman hasn’t been introduced, and the Dcu is still tiptoeing through infancy, yet this new entry has leapfrogged more central icons. Why? The answer comes down to a script. And not just any script: Mike Flanagan’s script. Yes, the architect of the grief-soaked nightmares pitched the project to DC heads Gunn and Peter Safran back in 2023.

James Watkins, known for his unnerving work on Speak No Evil, has since been handed the director’s baton, with screenwriter Hossein Amini (Drive) now polishing Flanagan’s original draft.

Confirmed: DC Studios is reworking outgoing director Mike Flanagan’s Clayface script, as Hossein Amini takes over writing duties.

Last week, we learned that DC Studios was planning to rewrite Mike Flanagan’s script for a Clayface film, erasing (although we don’t know to exactly what degree) the horror maestro’s take on the tragic villain who originated in the pages of the Batman comic books.

The story in short: Flanagan – a filmmaker famed for his horror storytelling – pitched the studio an idea for a Clayface film that would presumably lean into the character’s potential as a horror monster. Think The Substance crossed with Phantom Of The Opera and you find yourself in a space ripe with storytelling potential; the Clayface character exists in several different iterations. We’re not exactly sure that’s how Flanagan’s take would have gone – and now we may never know.

First,...

According to The Wrap, Hossein Amini will rewrite Clayface for DC Studios. Mike Flanagan, who wrote the first pass on the script, initially brought the project to life, but recent rumours have claimed that a potential “page 1 rewrite” is underway. How much of Flanagan’s script will be rewritten remains to be seen, but production is still slated to kick off this October in the U.K.

Amini is best known for writing Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive and, more recently, several episodes of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series. James Watkins (Speak No Evil) will direct the Clayface movie, which will be produced by Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris.

Related Clayface starts filming in October; rumored to get a page 1 rewrite

Earlier this year, Gunn explained that he never intended on making a Clayface movie in the DC Universe, but Flanagan’s script was just too good to ignore. “I didn...

Fans eager to see Mike Flanagan’s Clayface movie will apparently not be getting the celebrated filmmaker’s DC horror project exactly as he wrote it, as it seems Drive and The Wings of the Dove screenwriter Hossein Amini has been drafted in to rewrite the movie. While it has not been revealed the extent of those rewrites, it seems likely that they will be substantial enough to mean Mike Flanagan fans will not be seeing the movie that the Haunting of Hill House and Doctor Sleep director intended.

According to The Wrap, the villain-centric movie will now be getting an overhaul before cameras roll in the U.K. this October under the direction of James Watkins. Flanagan has been incredibly successful in the last decade as the creator of several incredible series at Netflix, including Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and the aforementioned The Haunting of Hill House.

With Sgt. Rock shelved by DC Studios, there were concerns that Clayface might be next. Well, there's a positive update today as a new writer has boarded the upcoming Dcu movie.

Mike Flanagan wrote a script for the low-budget horror flick, with Speak No Evil director James Watkins set to direct. Now, The Wrap reveals that Hossein Amini, best known for penning 2011's Drive, is doing a rewrite.

With so much hype surrounding Flanagan's screenplay and this being a longtime passion project for the filmmaker, it's a little strange that his script is being rewritten.

However, we reported last week that he only wrote a bare bones screenplay, leaving DC Studios eager to find someone who could do a page 1 rewrite. That appears to be where Amini comes in, likely because Flanagan remains busy with multiple other projects. His other recent credits include four episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Over the weekend,...

With Sgt. Rock shelved by DC Studios, there were concerns that Clayface might be next. Well, there's a positive update today as a new writer has boarded the upcoming Dcu movie.

Mike Flanagan wrote a script for the low-budget horror flick, with Speak No Evil director James Watkins set to direct. Now, The Wrap reveals that Hossein Amini, best known for penning 2011's Drive, is doing a rewrite.

With so much hype surrounding Flanagan's screenplay and this being a longtime passion project for the filmmaker, it's a little strange that his script is being rewritten.

However, we reported last week that he only wrote a bare bones screenplay, leaving DC Studios eager to find someone who could do a page 1 rewrite. That appears to be where Amini comes in, likely because Flanagan remains busy with multiple other projects. His other recent credits include four episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Over the weekend,...

Screenwriter Hossein Amini, best known for scripting 2011’s “Drive” has been tapped to rewirte “Clayface” for DC Studios, TheWrap has exclusively learned.

Mike Flanagan wrote the previous draft of the script. James Watkins, who directed last year’s remake of the Danish thriller “Speak No Evil” for Universal, is attached to direct.

The film will be produced by Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris. The film is scheduled to begin production on October in the UK.

Known as one of Batman’s most unique villains in his rogues gallery, Clayface was originally introduced in the vintage DC Comics as Basil Karlo, a horror movie actor who went mad. He later gained the ability to shape-shift and transform his body into any form by turning himself into living clay.

The character recently made an appearance last summer on the Reeves-exec produced “Batman: The Caped Crusader” and will make an appearance in an...

James Gunn is rebooting the DC Universe alongside DC Studios co-ceo Peter Safran. Aside from obvious films following popular characters like Superman, Supergirl, and Batman, Gunn also has other projects lined up following less famous characters.

One of them is Clayface, one of Batman’s most iconic villains. The upcoming movie, set to debut in 2026, is described as a Hollywood horror-thriller, and it will come with a script from horror auteur Mike Flanagan and James Watkins (Speak No Evil) at the helm. On May 3, Gunn hopped on social media to tease the upcoming Clayface movie on a key date: the character's anniversary.

Happy anniversary to the legendary shapeshifter, Clayface! A master of deception, this Super-Villain can become anything or anyone – even the star of his own film, coming 2026… 👀 He made his debut in Detective Comics #40, written by Bill Finger, with pencils and ink by Bob… pic.twitter.

Back in 2021, filmmaker Mike Flanagan let it be known on social media that he was interested in making a “standalone horror/thriller/tragedy” movie that would center on the DC Comics character Clayface, who is usually presented as a villain in the pages of Batman comic books. A while after that, he confirmed that he had met with veteran DC movie producer Jon Berg to pitch a “horror-leaning” take on Clayface, as well as ideas for the DC properties Scarecrow, Justice League Dark, and Constantine. The meeting “kind of went nowhere.” But then, in March of 2023, Deadline broke the news that Flanagan had scheduled another Clayface pitch meeting, this time with DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran. And at the end of last year, it was announced that Flanagan is officially writing a Clayface movie that will be part of the DC Universe film franchise that’s being overseen by Gunn and Safran.

Back in February, DC Studios enlisted Speak to Evil director James Watkins to helm Clayface. Given the filmmaker's horror background, all signs point to this potentially being one of the most messed-up comic book movies ever. 

However, Jeff Sneider is reporting today that Mike Flanagan only wrote a "skeleton" script for the movie, and with his focus shifting to the upcoming Carrie TV series, Clayface is reportedly getting a "Page 1 rewrite." 

Following up on his report on The Hot Mic, Sneider revealed that Sgt. Rock's budget was the reason for the movie's cancellation/postponement, not the "weather." It sounds like Luca Guadagnino initially had $70 million to play with, only for it to be reduced to $65 million (compromising the filmmaker's vision in the process).

It may have also been greenlit with Daniel Craig attached to star; when he pulled out, Guadagnino had to settle for The Penguin star Colin Farrell. 

DC...

Ah. Mike Flanagan will no longer be making Clayface for Warner Bros and DC, as he leaves the film, and a rewrite is ordered.

From where we’re sitting at least, this is a bad news week for DC Studios. Not only has one of the fledgling studios’ most interesting projects been suspended this week (and perhaps cancelled), now another of the more interesting titles on its slate looks like its getting a complete overhaul.

Just yesterday we brought you the news that DC Studios’ Sgt. Rock project had been suspended – supposedly by ‘higher-ups’ according to some sources – meaning that this is a call that may have been made by those above James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-chiefs of Warner Bros’ comic book division.

That was something of a blow given that the project looked to combine an artistically-minded director with pulpy comic book material, a juxtaposition that would...

Well, there’s one less soldier on the DC Studios battlefield.

“Sgt. Rock,” to be directed by Luca Guadagnino and written by his “Challengers” and “Queer” collaborator Justin Kuritzkes, is no longer moving forward at DC Studios, TheWrap has exclusively learned. Colin Farrell, already a part of the DC Comics universe thanks to his role as The Penguin in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” and the HBO spinoff series “The Penguin,” was in talks to play the title character after Daniel Craig dropped out.

The issue, one insider noted, came down to scheduling. The film, which would require a lot of exterior shoots, needed to start production this summer and wasn’t going to make its date. Budget didn’t appear to be an issue — it was meant to come in under $70 million, which for a high-priority comic book adaptation, is a bargain.

DC Studios had no comment.

The character, a...

Although her role as Janice Haliday in Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck will involve plenty of dancing, the latest still released of Annalise Basso looks more serious than carefree. In it, Basso’s Janice stands opposite Tom Hiddleston’s titular character, Chuck Krantz, and the pair appears to be embroiled in a serious conversation. Although we can’t tell what they’re chatting about, it looks like Janice’s words are leaving a lasting mark on Chuck and vice versa, with each character deeply connected and attentive to what the other is saying.

The Life of Chuck will see its filmmaker, Flanagan, move away from his typical vein of horror and step into something else — something more existential yet still topped with a twist of the supernatural. It’s also a change for author Stephen King, who wrote the short story on which Flanagan’s production is based.

In 2022, Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup delivered one of the most disturbing horror films of modern times with "Speak No Evil." Tafdrup, who co-wrote the movie with his brother, Mads, didn't want to rely on gore to upset audiences. In fact, he didn't want to rely on any established tropes of the horror genre in order to achieve his desired effect, instead constructing a truly unique and deeply troubling film that haunted viewers not only for the bleak events contained therein, but for its social commentary. Specifically, Tafdrup wanted to interrogate humanity's widespread aversion to interpersonal conflict and show how a dogged commitment to maintaining a polite social manner can have disastrous consequences.

Of course, the consequences depicted in "Speak No Evil" were a tad more disastrous than any of us will ever experience. One notorious scene actually managed to speak so much evil that it immediately became an unpleasant core...

Alan Tudyk's mystery role in James Gunn's Superman has been revealed. Gunn has confirmed that Tudyk can be heard voicing Robot 4 in the latest sneak peek for the upcoming superhero blockbuster.

After the sneak peek was released yesterday, DC Universe fans began to speculate whether Tudyk was behind the voice of Robot 4. Gunn has since confirmed with a post on Threads that Tudyk is voicing the character, responding with, "You've got me," to the fan who posed the casting question to the DC Studios head. Robot 4 is one of 12 robotic servants who are stationed at the Fortress of Solitude. In the sneak peek, they are shown assisting the Man of Steel with healing his damanged body.

Post by @jamesgunn View on Threads

Robot 4 isn't the first time that Tudyk has voiced a robotic ally. He previously voiced the droid K-2So in the 2016 Star Wars movie Rogue One.

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Prime Video is ready with an entertainment-packed April this year. The upcoming month will see the return of the beloved Original series Leverage: Redemption and also the release of the much-anticipated horror action series The Bondsman. Just like every month, Prime Video is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the best 11 new movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video in April 2025.

Speak No Evil (April 1) Credit – Universal Pictures

Speak No Evil is a psychological horror thriller film written and directed by James Watkins. Based on the 2022 Danish-Dutch film of the same name by Christian and Mads Tafdrup, the 2024 film follows an American family on their dream holiday, which soon turns into a nightmare when a British family invites them to their quaint country estate to spend a weekend with them.

James Gunn has weighed on what he thinks makes David Corenswet the perfect choice to play Superman. We’re now officially less than 100 days away from the release of Superman, which will introduce the world to the Twisters and Pearl star as the new Man of Steel. All signs point to Corenswet being the perfect choice to bring Clark Kent to life, but he will certainly have his work cut out for him taking over the role from Henry Cavill. During a recent interview with Time Magazine, Gunn revealed the one condition that any actor had to agree to before taking on the role, and also confirmed what made him ultimately decide to go with Corwenswet over the several other people also auditioned:

"They treated everyone with kindness and respect. I’ve seen sets that cater to an actor or director’s ego and that’s just not something that would happen with David.

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MobLand is a British crime drama series created by Ronan Bennett. The Paramount+ series is set in London, and it follows Harry Da Souza, a fixer working for the Harrigan crime family, as they get into a gang war with a rival crime family, the Stevensons, because of a missing young boy. MobLand stars Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan, Paddy Considine, Joanne Froggatt, Lara Pulver, Anson Boon, Jasmine Jobson, Mandeep Dhillon, Daniel Betts, and Helen Mirren. So, if you loved the thrilling crime drama, occasional dark humor, and compelling characters in MobLand, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Top Boy (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Top Boy is a British crime thriller drama series created by Ronan Bennett. The Channel 4 and later Netflix series is set in the fictional Summerhouse estate in East London, and it revolves around Dushane and Sully,...

DC fans are counting down the days till Batman returns to the big screen. As of now, The Batman: Part II in 2027 is the earliest that can happen. That film recently got delayed to the heartbreak of many, but James Gunn's Dcu is about to make a major splash with Superman this summer. This shared universe will have its own version of The Caped Crusader. McFarlane Toys has been trying to fill the Batman-void until the character returns to theaters with their wide variety of DC figures. Now, their latest Batman pieces are ready to take to the streets of Gotham.

The first of these new Batman figures is a part of McFarlane's DC Multiverse line. This GameStop-exclusive seven-inch Red Platinum Edition figure is based on “The Cowardly Lot” comic storyline from writer James Tyion IV and artist Jorge Jiménez that was found in the pages of Batman. The...

Giancarlo Esposito is ready and willing to play another comic book villain after playing Sidewinder in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World. According to the actor, he wants to chill in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe as the sub-zero-suit-wearing villain Mr. Freeze. While Matt Reeves’s The Batman operates outside the primary canon of the rebooted Dcu, The Brave and the Bold, featuring Batman and Robin, is on the docket. Esposito could play the mad scientist Victor Fries in the Dcu’s upcoming Batman film, and fans would love to see it happen.

In DC lore, Mr. Freeze is a tortured, unfeeling villain relentlessly striving to bring his beloved Nora back from the brink of a cryofreeze chamber. Nora suffers from a terminal illness for which Victor is determined to find a cure. Across multiple storylines, her illness has been portrayed as neurological, bloodborne, lung cancer,...

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Dope Thief is a crime drama series created by Peter Craig. Based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Dennis Tafoya, the Apple TV+ series is set in Philadelphia, and it follows two best friends who pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers’ houses. Still, when they accidentally rob someone extremely dangerous, their and their family’s lives are put in danger. Dope Thief stars Brian Tyree Henry, Wagner Moura, Marin Ireland, Amir Arison, Nesta Cooper, Kate Mulgrew, and Ving Rhames. So, if you loved the intense story, thrilling drama, and compelling characters in Dope Thief, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Banshee (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Cinemax

Banshee is an action crime thriller drama series created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler. The Cinemax series is set in the...

Gotham City. The home of criminals like Joker, Poison Ivy, Penguin, and Mr. Freeze, as well as heroes like Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, Robin, and, of course, Batman. Finally, we have confirmation that the city protected by the Caped Crusader will be the setting of an upcoming film.

Creature Commandos started the Dcu in December of 2024, and took us to the fictional country of Pokolistan and other locations throughout the Dcu. One of those locations was Gotham City, albeit very briefly. It also gave us our first look at Batman within the Dcu, but don’t expect that to be a perfect indicator of what the Dark Knight will look like when he is eventually fully revealed.

Metropolis is the next iconic location to be explored when Superman releases in July of this year, then will likely be explored further in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow in June of 2026.

On September...

Though a lot of fans remain a little confused about the decision to give this particular character his own solo project, we are getting a Clayface movie from the director of Speak No Evil, James Watkins, with a script from Mike Flanagan.

James Gunn has confirmed that the film will be set in the Dcu, but it seems the original plan was to introduce the villain in Matt Reeves' BatVerse.

You may recall the trades noting that Clayface would have a "significant role" in The Batman II prior to the solo movie announcement, and Batman on Film's Bill Ramey believes the character was indeed going to be the primary antagonist of Reeves' sequel before the idea for his own Dcu film began to take shape.

If you're wondering how a character like Clayface would fit in Reeves' relatively grounded BatVerse, it's worth pointing out that the original version of Basil...

Though we don't have any word on an actor DC Studios might be considering to play the lead role of Basil Karlo in Clayface, a new rumor is claiming that casting is currently underway for a female character named "Caitlin Bates."

There is no one by this name in the comics, and scooper Daniel Richtman speculates that it might actually be Caitlin Snow, aka Killer Frost. Though they are both villains, Frost and Clayface have faced off a number of times in the comics, and also joined forces on occasion.

This is just one theory, of course. A gender-swapped Hannibal Bates, aka Everyman, is also a possibility since the villain is a fellow shape-shifter. Or, Caitlin Bates might simply turn out to be... Caitlin Bates!

Speak No Evil director James Watkins was recently confirmed to take the helm of the project, which is believed to be budgeted at $40 million. The...

James McAvoy touched down in his hometown at the Glasgow Film Festival this weekend where the actor lifted the lid on his experience of directing his first feature film California Schemin’ , which he admitted was “the most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Speaking to an audience at the Glasgow Film Theatre for an In Conversation event on Sunday, the Glasgow native said: “I remember waking up one morning feeling like I needed a root canal because my molars were killing me, and I had a toothache because I was clenching my jaw so much in the night. My face was swelling up and that’s quite problematic because I have to be in the film.”

The X-Men actor recently wrapped shooting California Schemin’, based on Gavin Bain’s autobiography of the same name, which was later re-printed as Straight Outta Scotland. The story was later adapted...

James Gunn is setting the record straight on a recent rumor surrounding the Dcu.

The 58-year-old writer/director and co-ceo of DC Studios took to Threads to deny casting rumors about Daniel Radcliffe starring in the upcoming Clayface movie.

Keep reading to find out more…

“As we confirmed the other day, we’re closing a deal with James to direct. Because we don’t have a director yet, we haven’t even started the casting process. Daniel is great but we certainly haven’t talked to or considered him. So this one is 100% false,” James wrote on his Threads account.

THR recently revealed that Speak No Evil helmer James Watkins is attached to direct the upcoming DC title, which was first revealed back in December.

Horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan has penned the script for the movie, and a September 11, 2026 release date has been set.

Stay tuned for official casting news on the Clayface movie!

It was announced last week that James Watkins (Speak No Evil) would direct the Clayface movie for DC Studios, and almost immediately, rumours emerged that Daniel Radcliffe was being considered for the starring role. Before you start getting too excited (or not), James Gunn took to Threads to shoot down the rumour.

“As we confirmed the other day, we’re closing a deal with James to direct,” Gunn wrote. “Because we don’t have a director yet, we haven’t even started the casting process. Daniel is great but we certainly haven’t talked to or considered him. So this one is 100% false.” As the project starts to move forward, we’ll likely hear some real casting news before too long. Dave Bautista once expressed a desire to play the role of Clayface, but Gunn has certainly been keen on populating the Dcu with actors he’s worked with before.

With Clayface joining the new Dcu, James Gunn is tackling the latest casting rumors.

On Thursday, the DC Studios boss took to Threads to shoot down reports that Daniel Radcliffe would take the lead as the titular supervillain in the upcoming Mike Flanagan-written, James Watkins-directed movie, which is set for a Sept. 11, 2026 premiere.

“As we confirmed the other day, we’re closing a deal with James to direct,” wrote Gunn in the post. “Because we don’t have a director yet, we haven’t even started the casting process. Daniel is great but we certainly haven’t talked to or considered him. So this one is 100% false.”

After Deadline reported Watkins is set to direct, Gunn and co-ceo Peter Safran announced that filming is set to begin this summer. “Clayface isn’t widely known as Penguin or Joker, but we think his story is as deeply resonant, thrilling and even more terrifying,...

Recent rumors had suggested that Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe was being eyed to portray the titular supervillain in DC Studios' upcoming Clayface film. However, James Gunn has thrown cold water on those rumors, meaning Radcliffe may not be joining the Dcu anytime soon after all.

Recently, film scooper Jeff Sneider of The InSneider reported that Radcliffe was wanted to play the live-action version of Clayface. According to the report, he was one of two actors in consideration for the role. The rumor was plausible, as Radcliffe previously worked with director James Watkins on the 2012 film The Woman in Black, which could have been one aspect that possibly drew Radcliffe to the role. After the chatter reached DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn, however, the rumor was completely squashed.

RelatedJames Gunn Considering Doing Reshoots on Superman

Superman writer-director and DC Studios co-head James Gunn delves into test screening and reshoots for...

James Gunn recently took to Threads to shut down social media rumors claiming Daniel Radcliffe is joining the new DC Universe as the star of “Clayface,” which is now in development. “Doctor Sleep” filmmaker Mike Flanagan is penning the script for the movie, which is being billed as a horror spin on the comic book tentpole. Gunn’s DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran confirmed earlier this month that “Speak No Evil” director James Watkins is in talks to direct the movie.

“As we confirmed the other day, we’re closing a deal with James to direct,” Gunn wrote amid rumors of the “Harry Potter” star being cast in the title role. “Because we don’t have a director yet, we haven’t even started the casting process. Daniel is great but we certainly haven’t talked to or considered him. So this one is 100% false.

Safran has characterized the “Clayface...

As the Harry Potter universe is expanding with the upcoming TV show, the original actors continue to make their mark in the industry outside of the roles that marked them. Now, Daniel Radcliffe is expected to make his superhero debut.

After a string of rumors about him playing Wolverine in a future movie or even a Wolverine variant in Deadpool & Wolverine, that turned out not to be true. However, after working on different projects to set himself apart from the Boy Who Lived, Radcliffe might get his superhero genre debut after all. Per industry insider The InSneider, Radcliffe is one of two actors eyed to play the leading character in DC's upcoming movie, Clayface.

RelatedDaniel Radcliffe Joins Vietnam War-Set Thriller From Mozart in the Jungle Director

Following his Tony win, Daniel Radcliffe is going back to movies.

While that would mean a superhero debut in the DC Universe, instead of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,...

Supermanmay not be in theaters yet, but DC Studios is already making bold swings in the rebooted DC Universe. Clayface, written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, will feature the iconic Batman villain front and center of his own feature-length film. Set to be directed by Speak No Evil's James Watkins, the upcoming project has quickly risen among the most intriguing in the superhero genre. With a $40 million budget, it could be the studio's next Joker, and the film appears to be eyeing an appropriately iconic actor to headline it.

According to Jeff Sneider, former Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is being eyed to play the lead in Clayface. The film will follow Basil Karlo, a B-list Hollywood actor who injects himself with a mysterious substance to save his career, but then goes through a gruesome transformation as his body morphs into a moldable clay. Described as a body horror film written by Flanagan,...

Supermanmay not be in theaters yet, but DC Studios is already making bold swings in the rebooted DC Universe. Clayface, written by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, will feature the iconic Batman villain front and center of his own feature-length film. Set to be directed by Speak No Evil's James Watkins, the upcoming project has quickly risen among the most intriguing in the superhero genre. With a $40 million budget, it could be the studio's next Joker, and the film appears to be eyeing an appropriately iconic actor to headline it.

According to Jeff Sneider, former Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is being eyed to play the lead in Clayface. The film will follow Basil Karlo, a B-list Hollywood actor who injects himself with a mysterious substance to save his career, but then goes through a gruesome transformation as his body morphs into a moldable clay. Described as a body horror film written by Flanagan,...

A while ago DC Studios officially greenlit Clayface, a horror-themed film about a struggling B-movie actor who uses a mysterious substance to stay relevant—only to transform into a creature made entirely of clay.

The script was written by Flanagan. Safran compared the film’s tone to the 1986 horror classic The Fly. However, due to Flanagan’s commitments to his upcoming The Exorcist movie (2026) and a planned Carrie TV series, he was unable to direct.

Instead recently, James Watkins was hired to take on directing duties, with filming expected to begin later that year. Reeves is also involved as a producer alongside Lynn Harris through his production company, 6th & Idaho Productions.

Gunn and Safran clarified that Alan Tudyk, who voiced Clayface in Creature Commandos, would not reprise the role for this film, as his voice work was not considered one of his main Dcu roles.

Now industry insider Jeff Sneider...

DC Studios recently enlisted Speak to Evil director James Watkins to helm Clayface. Given the filmmaker's horror background, all signs point to this being one of the most messed up comic book movies ever. 

The Dcu-set project will begin shooting later this year and we now have our first casting rumour. According to The InSneider, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe is one of two actors currently being eyed for the role of Basil Karlo, a.k.a. Clayface. 

Radcliffe previously worked with Watkins on The Woman in Black. The actor has made a big effort to shake off the shadow of the Boy Who Lived in recent years, taking on vastly different, typically well-received roles in movies like Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and The Lost City. 

We'll see what happens, though rumours claiming James McAvoy was being lined up to play Clayface have since been debunked. 

Talking to Cinema Blend about Clayface last week,...

The other day, James Gunn and Peter Safran — the two guys in charge of charting a new course for the DC Cinematic Universe — talked to reporters about their plans, and boy do they have them. Let's run down some of the things they said:

This new Dcu will officially launch with Superman, which will hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Gunn and Safran are cutting together a new trailer now as well as holding test screenings. They are psyched. “I’ve wanted to make a Superman movie since 1978 and the Superman film that James has made is exactly the one that teenage Peter Safran has been waiting for,” Safran said.After that, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will release on June 26, 2026. The movie will star House of the Dragon veteran Milly Alcock (Young Rhaenyra Targaryen) in the title role. "We’ve always viewed this transformative story as one of the cornerstones of our...

Time flies when you're having fun — and when you're trying to build a cinematic universe, too. Somehow, it's already been two years since DC Studios head honchos James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed the roadmap for their newly christened Dcu, announcing a wildly ambitious "Gods And Monsters" first phase comprising 10 projects. Now, as the first major movie from that slate, Gunn's own Superman, gets ready to take flight this July, Gunn and Safran have taken some time to give fans an update on their ever-evolving future plans — including Batman: The Brave And The Bold, a proposed live-action Teen Titans movie, Clayface, and much more besides.

At a gathering of the press last Friday, Gunn and Safran held court to talk films and TV shows that are in production, that need more time, and that are in the early stages of development. On the in production front, as of right...

James Gunn and Peter Safran have been chatting DC’s upcoming slate, and confirmed that British director James Watkins is set to helm the studio’s Clayface adaptation.

James Gunn and Peter Safran have been in charge of DC Studios for just over two years now, and 2025 will see the pair release DC’s first film under their tenure, Gunn’s Superman.

Gunn and Safran recently gave an update on where the studio is headed. While Gunn and Safran are clearly trying to avoid the Marvel style of announcing a huge slate of films and series and then having to backtrack on their promises, the pair did deliver some exciting news.

One of the new projects discussed was a live-action adaptation of Clayface. The film was announced in late December and is set to hit cinemas on 11th September 2026. There’s still no news on who might be appearing in the film,...

DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran were asked Friday in a DC presser about what they’re doing to keep production in California, particularly at a time when two wildfires have threatened the possibility of more film and TV runaway shoots in the wake of the 2023 dual strikes.

It’s not an easy question, one that boils down to dollars and cents is and evaluated with each series or feature that’s greenlighted. At the heart of balancing the budget scales for DC is Lars P. Winther, a former assistant director for Gunn from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

“I hope California steps up in a big away and increases the [tax] credit,” Safran said. “Nothing would make us happy than to shoot here on a more consistent basis.”

He emphasized that the next DC Max series Lanterns from co-scribes Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King is set...

It's official: a Teen Titans movie for the DC Universe is in the works. DC Studios co-CEOs Peter Safran and James Gunn confirmed that Ana Nogueira is writing a Teen Titans movie during a recent press event for the studio.

Per Variety, Safran let slip that reports of a Teen Titans movie were true after a reporter asked about the status of Nogueira's screenplay. "The script’s not ready yet. I mean, I think we said that Ana Nogueira is writing it," the DC head said, leading Gunn to remark, "We haven’t said that." The back-and-forth exchange continued with Safran stating, "No, I think it was out there," with Gunn replying, "It’s out there," implying that DC Studios had never officially confirmed the reports until now. "It was something that Ana was really impassioned about, and she turned over an amazing script for us," said Gunn about how the project came to be.

DC Studios has confirmed that a Sgt. Rock movie is in the works for the DC Universe. The confirmation came after studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran were asked about Daniel Craig's departure from the World War II movie.

Per Variety, Gunn and Safran recently held a press event for DC Studios' upcoming film and television slate. When the topic of Craig exiting Sgt. Rock came up; Safran clarified that the James Bond actor "was never attached" to the movie, so he couldn't have dropped out. The DC head went on to explain that the actor had merely been floated as a possible candidate for the role due to having just appeared in Sgt. Rock director Luca Guadagnino's previous film, Queer. "But, you know, we never met with Daniel. He was just an idea," Safran said, with Gunn adding, "Well, we never really even announced Sgt. Rock.

DC fans got a bit of a shock late last year when it was revealed out of nowhere that a Clayface movie was being put into development with a script by horror auteur Mike Flanagan. The movie wasn't even on anyone's radar, including DC Studios co-chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran, who had no plans to make a Clayface film until they saw Flanagan's script and couldn't resist. The movie recently found its director in Speak No Evil's James Watkins, but don't look for noted Clayface actor Alan Tudyk to take on the titular role in the live-action film.

Speaking with Variety, Gunn noted that he hopes Clayface "works as a pure horror movie for somebody who doesn't care at all about DC," but for those fans who have been following the DC Universe for quite some time, don’t expect Tudyk to appear in the film. Despite voicing...

It’s been just over two years since James Gunn and Peter Safran mapped out their initial slate of projects for DC Studios and what would be the newly revamped Dcu, a new interconnected universe of superhero movies and films based on DC characters and kicking off in earnest with Gunn’s “Superman” arriving this summer.

So where do they stand? In a press event last week on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Gunn and Safran held court with journalists about all they had cooking, the stuff that’s moving forward and the stuff that has lost the wind in its sails or has hit a snag. That included everything from details on the studio’s Batman films — both the Dcu film “The Brave and the Bold” and updates on the non-canon “The Batman 2” from Matt Reeves — as well as a potential “Teen Titans” movie and the update...

It has been over two years since James Gunn announced his plans for Chapter 1 of the Dcu, Gods & Monsters. Audiences finally got to see those plans kick off with the debut of Creature Commandos, and the franchise is moving along nicely as Superman is set to open in theaters in July 2025, followed by previously announced projects like Peacemaker Season 2, Lanterns, and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Meanwhile, Clayface, Sgt.Rock and Dynamic Duo were announced after and have since been added to the slate of releases, showing a diverse line-up of projects and genres for the Dcu. However, some titles announced in January 2023 have made no progress, one in particular feeling like a glaring omission: The Authority.

Speaking with various members of the press to update on the state of the Dcu, James Gunn and Peter Safran revealed the status of The Authority. According to Variety, Safran said, "It’s a very,...

James Gunn and Peter Safran's first chapter in their new DC Universe (Dcu), titled Gods and Monsters, has certainly lived up to its name in light of recent projects that have been moving forward. With Creature Commandos being the launchpad for the new continuity and Superman set to be the first feature film, a precedent has been set in the varying tones that the new interconnected universe of films can aspire to. Now, a new project is moving forward that will further cement the monsters part of the subtitle of DC Studios' first big chapter, as the upcoming Clayface film has slowly collected some impressive talent behind it, and Gunn thinks it's one of the best scripts he's read for the new Dcu.

As reported by The Wrap, who was in attendance at a DC Studios Panel where Gunn and Safran gave an update on the current slate of projects,...

Stephen Kingis staying busy these days. Between preparing for the release of his latest novel Never Flinch, creating a Hansel and Gretel picture book, and basking in the booming success of the latest adaptation of his work, Osgood Perkins' The Monkey, it's hard to believe that the best-selling author could find the time to be more involved more adaptations. However, it seems that The Life of Chuck director Mike Flanagan has enticed the writer to be more directly involved in the upcoming small screen version of one of his greatest novels. If the project is enough to get King excited, fans should be brimming with enthusiasm for Flanagan's bold undertaking.

The Gerald's Game director has been working on a series adaptation of King's longest-running novel series, The Dark Tower books. Notorious for its failed movie adaptation starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, The Dark Tower books could only make sense...

"This summer, cameras are gonna roll on 'Clayface,' which is an incredible body horror film that reveals a compelling origin of a classic Batman villain," Peter Safran announced to an eager room of journalists at a special DC Studios press event, including /Film's own Bill Bria. "This is another title that we added to the slate on the strength of an exceptional screenplay by Mike Flanagan," he continued.

Since it was announced that the man who gave us "Doctor Sleep," "The Haunting of Hill House," "Midnight Mass," and "The Fall of the House of Usher" had turned in a script for a film based on one of the most interesting members of Batman's rogues gallery, horror fans have been frothing at the mouth for more information about what a supervillain movie written by a modern master of horror might look like in Safran and James Gunn's new slate of DC films,...

The upcoming Clayface movie is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing entries in the new DC Universe, and for James Gunn, it’s the kind of project he would have jumped at the chance to make years ago. During a recent Warner Bros. press event attended by Collider’s Steve Weintraub, DC Studios co-heads Gunn and Peter Safran offered new details about the body horror take on the classic Batman villain, revealing why this film is so special to them. Safran described Clayface as a dark and disturbing origin tale that takes a lesser-known Gotham villain and transforms him into something truly horrifying, while also confirming the reports that Speak No Evil director James Watkins could be coming aboard to helm the project. He said:...

Two years after becoming the co-heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran brought us up to speed on their vision of an interconnected DC across TV and film, a phase that they entitled “Gods and Monsters.”

Mostly everything they announced back in January 2023 is intact in some form or fashion, and we’ve provided an update on projects below. The duo’s plan moving forward is to release two live-action and one animated DC film per year. They’re also targeting two-live action and two animated series for Max per year. However for 2025, there’s only one series, that being Season 2 of Gunn’s Peacemaker premiering in August.

DC Chiefs On Exit Of Warner Bros Marketing Boss & How David Zaslav Has “Rallied The Whole Company Behind ‘Superman’”

“We’ve unified the brand, greenlit five theatrical films, made three live-action series and [are] producing five animated series. We’ve also...