March 2, 2025: James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, recently addressed and cleared up the casting rumors surrounding the upcoming DCU movie featuring the iconic villain Clayface. The rumors suggested that actor Daniel Radcliffe was set to play the role of Clayface, a character long associated with Batman in DC Comics.
Taking to his Threads account, Gunn responded to the speculation. “As we confirmed the other day, we’re closing a deal with James to direct,” Gunn wrote, referring to James Watkins, who is set to direct the movie. He continued, “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.”
The upcoming Clayface film is scheduled for release on September 11, 2026. It is being written by Mike Flanagan, a renowned filmmaker known for his work in horror, and directed by James Watkins. In 2021, Flanagan shared on Twitter that he wanted to take the character in a darker direction, describing his vision as “horror/thriller/tragedy.”
While Clayface’s movie is highly anticipated, the film will take a unique spin on the character. It was revealed in March 2023 that the character wouldn’t be portrayed as the typical villain. Sources close to Deadline noted that this idea was discussed during meetings with Gunn and Peter Safran, who took over at DC Studios in 2022.
Clayface first appeared in DC Comics in 1940, created as part of Detective Comics #40. Over time, several characters have assumed the Clayface identity. Initially, the character was a failed actor who turned to crime after being disfigured. He has appeared in various TV shows, animated series, and video games, and has been portrayed by actors such as Brian McManamon in Gotham and Lorraine Burroughs in Pennyworth. His backstory has evolved, with some versions of the character portraying him as a scientist with hormone irregularities.
The upcoming Clayface film promises to take the character in an exciting new direction, blending horror elements with the dark tragic nature of the villain. Fans are now eagerly awaiting more updates on casting and other details for the movie.