The DC Universe is getting a new face of horror, and we have the first look! New set photos from the upcoming Clayface movie have surfaced, giving us our first glimpse of actor Tom Rhys Harries in character as the iconic, shapeshifting Batman villain. And let’s just say, it looks like they’re leaning heavily into the body horror elements that have made the character a fan favorite for decades.
Source: Daily Mail
What the Set Photos Reveal
Filming for Clayface is officially underway in Liverpool, England, and the city has been transformed into a gritty, grimy Gotham City. The set photos, which first appeared on the Daily Mail, show Harries looking battered and bloodied, with heavy bandages covering his head and neck. This seems to confirm the film’s rumored plot, which is said to be a body horror story about an actor who goes to extreme lengths to modify his appearance after being disfigured by a gangster.
A New Kind of Comic Book Movie
DC Studios co-chairperson and co-CEO Peter Safran has compared the film’s tone to the 1986 horror classic The Fly, which should give you an idea of the kind of visceral, character-driven horror we can expect. The film is also being compared to the 2024 body horror film The Substance, which starred Demi Moore as an aging actress who uses a dangerous drug to stay young. It seems Clayface will be a dark, twisted take on the price of fame and the lengths people will go to for their art.
Who’s Who in Clayface
Tom Rhys Harries, best known for his role in the Netflix series White Lines, is leading a talented cast that includes Max Minghella (The Handmaid’s Tale), Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Eddie Marsan (The World’s End), and Tanya Moodie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker). The film is being directed by James Watkins, who previously directed the horror films Eden Lake and The Woman in Black.
The Character’s Comic Book Origins
Clayface has been a staple of Batman’s rogues gallery since his first appearance in Detective Comics #40 in 1940 [1]. Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character has undergone several iterations over the decades, but the core concept has remained the same: a villain with the ability to reshape his body like clay.
The original Clayface, Basil Karlo, was an actor who turned to crime after being replaced in a horror film remake. This origin story seems to be heavily influencing the upcoming movie, which reportedly focuses on an actor whose career is derailed by disfigurement. Over the years, different characters have taken on the Clayface mantle, including Matt Hagen, who gained his powers through exposure to a radioactive pool of protoplasm.
Source: X/Twitter
What makes Clayface particularly terrifying is his ability to perfectly mimic other people’s appearances. In the comics, he’s used this power to infiltrate the Bat-family, impersonate Bruce Wayne, and even fool Superman. His shapeshifting abilities make him one of Batman’s most unpredictable foes, as you never know who might actually be Clayface in disguise.
Behind the Scenes: A Horror Master’s Vision
Director James Watkins brings a wealth of horror experience to the project. His previous work includes Eden Lake (2008), a brutal survival horror film that established him as a master of tension and psychological terror. He also directed The Woman in Black (2012), starring Daniel Radcliffe, which proved he could handle both intimate character work and supernatural horror elements.
The choice of Watkins as director signals that DC Studios is serious about making Clayface a genuine horror film rather than a typical superhero movie. In recent interviews, DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran has emphasized that the film will push boundaries and explore the darker corners of the DC Universe [2].
The Liverpool Set: Gotham City Comes to Life
The set photos reveal an impressive transformation of Liverpool’s Derby Square into a convincing Gotham City. Production designers have added Gotham City Police vehicles, a Gotham Broadcasting Channel van, and what appears to be a hospital entrance where much of the action is taking place [3].
The attention to detail in creating this Gotham City environment suggests that Clayface will be fully integrated into the world established by The Batman. This isn’t just a standalone horror film that happens to feature a DC character – it’s a genuine expansion of the Batman cinematic universe.
Tom Rhys Harries: From White Lines to Gotham City
Tom Rhys Harries might not be a household name yet, but the 32-year-old Welsh actor has been steadily building an impressive resume. His breakout role came in the Netflix series White Lines, where he played the complex character of Axel Collins. The show, created by the team behind Money Heist, showcased Harries’ ability to handle both dramatic and action-heavy scenes.
Prior to White Lines, Harries appeared in various British television productions and had a memorable guest appearance in Doctor Who. His casting as Clayface represents a significant step up in terms of profile and the physical demands of the role. Based on the set photos, it’s clear that Harries is fully committed to the character’s transformation, both literally and figuratively.
The Body Horror Element: What to Expect
The comparison to The Fly and The Substance gives us important clues about the tone and content of Clayface. Both films deal with characters who undergo horrific physical transformations in pursuit of their goals. The Fly showed Jeff Goldblum’s scientist slowly transforming into a grotesque insect-human hybrid, while The Substance depicted Demi Moore’s character using a mysterious drug that creates a younger, more beautiful version of herself – with devastating consequences.
The Clayface film appears to be following a similar trajectory. According to the plot synopsis, Harries’ character is an actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. Desperate to continue his career, he injects himself with an experimental drug that allows him to reshape his appearance. However, the drug’s effects go far beyond what he expected, eventually giving him the ability to transform his entire body into a clay-like substance.
This origin story cleverly ties together the character’s comic book powers with real-world themes about the entertainment industry’s obsession with appearance and the lengths people will go to maintain their careers. It’s a timely commentary wrapped in a horror package.
The Stellar Supporting Cast
While Tom Rhys Harries is leading the film, he’s surrounded by an impressive ensemble cast. Max Minghella, known for his role as Nick Blaine in The Handmaid’s Tale, brings both dramatic gravitas and genre experience to the project. Naomi Ackie, who appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and the acclaimed I Wanna Dance with Somebody, adds another layer of talent to the production.
Eddie Marsan, a veteran character actor known for his work in films like The World’s End and Sherlock Holmes, was spotted on set alongside Harries. Marsan’s presence suggests that the film will feature some serious dramatic weight alongside its horror elements. Tanya Moodie, who has appeared in both Star Wars and various British television productions, rounds out the announced cast.
Production Powerhouses Behind the Camera
The involvement of Matt Reeves as producer cannot be overstated. Reeves, who directed The Batman and is currently working on its sequel, has proven his ability to create a grounded, realistic take on the Batman universe while still honoring the character’s comic book roots. His production company, 6th & Idaho, is co-producing Clayface alongside DC Studios.
Lynn Harris, who has produced numerous DC films including Wonder Woman and Aquaman, brings extensive experience in managing large-scale superhero productions. The combination of Reeves’ creative vision and Harris’ production expertise suggests that Clayface will maintain the high production values that audiences expect from modern DC films.
The Script: Mike Flanagan’s Horror Expertise
The screenplay for Clayface comes from Mike Flanagan, a writer-director who has become synonymous with intelligent, character-driven horror. Flanagan’s work on Netflix series like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass has earned him critical acclaim for his ability to blend supernatural horror with deep emotional storytelling.
Flanagan’s involvement suggests that Clayface will be more than just a monster movie. His scripts typically focus on characters dealing with trauma and transformation, themes that align perfectly with the Clayface character. The fact that DC Studios chose a horror specialist to write the script rather than a traditional superhero movie writer indicates their commitment to making this a genuine horror film.
Visual Effects and Practical Makeup
One of the biggest challenges facing the Clayface production will be bringing the character’s shapeshifting abilities to life on screen. The set photos show Harries in heavy makeup and bandages, suggesting that the film will rely heavily on practical effects for the character’s transformation scenes.
Source: Daily Mail
The decision to use practical effects aligns with the film’s horror influences. Both The Fly and The Substance relied heavily on practical makeup and prosthetics to create their transformation sequences, resulting in visceral, tactile effects that CGI often struggles to match. Given the film’s reported R-rating, audiences can expect some truly disturbing imagery as Harries’ character undergoes his clay-based metamorphosis.
Connection to The Batman Universe
Clayface represents an important expansion of the Batman cinematic universe established by The Batman. While Robert Pattinson’s Batman won’t appear in the film, the shared universe connection opens up possibilities for future crossovers. The Gotham City setting and the involvement of Matt Reeves as producer ensure that the film will feel like a natural extension of The Batman‘s world.
This approach allows DC Studios to explore different genres within the same universe. While The Batman was a noir-influenced detective story, Clayface will be a body horror film. Future projects could explore other genres while maintaining the grounded, realistic tone that Reeves established.
The R-Rating: Pushing Boundaries
DC Studios has confirmed that Clayface will receive an R-rating, marking it as one of the more mature entries in the DC film catalog [4]. This rating gives the filmmakers freedom to fully explore the horror elements of the story without having to tone down the violence or disturbing imagery for younger audiences.
The R-rating also signals DC’s willingness to experiment with different approaches to their characters. While most superhero films aim for PG-13 ratings to maximize their audience, Clayface is clearly targeting adult horror fans who want something more intense and psychologically complex.
Release Date and Expectations
Clayface is currently scheduled for release on September 11, 2026, giving the production team plenty of time to perfect the complex visual effects and makeup work required for the character. The September release date is interesting, as it places the film in the traditional horror movie season, further emphasizing its genre credentials.
The film’s success could pave the way for more horror-oriented DC projects. Characters like Swamp Thing, Constantine, and Etrigan the Demon would all lend themselves well to horror treatments, and Clayface‘s reception will likely influence DC’s willingness to explore these darker corners of their universe.
What This Means for the Future of DC Films
The Clayface project represents a significant shift in how DC Studios approaches their characters. Rather than trying to create a shared universe where every film feels similar, they’re allowing individual projects to explore different genres and tones while maintaining loose connections to the larger universe.
Source: Daily Mail
This approach could be the key to DC’s future success. By giving filmmakers the freedom to tell the stories they want to tell within the DC framework, the studio can attract top-tier talent who might not be interested in making traditional superhero films. Clayface proves that DC characters can work in any genre, from horror to comedy to drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will Batman appear in the Clayface movie? A: While the film is set in the same universe as The Batman, Robert Pattinson’s Batman is not expected to appear in Clayface. The film will focus entirely on the villain’s origin story.
Q: Is this connected to other DC movies? A: Yes, Clayface is part of the same universe as The Batman and future Batman-related films. However, it’s designed to work as a standalone story.
Q: How scary will the movie be? A: With an R-rating and comparisons to The Fly, Clayface is expected to be genuinely frightening. It’s being marketed as a horror film first and a superhero movie second.
Q: When will we see more footage? A: With filming just beginning, it will likely be several months before we see official trailers or footage from the film.
References
[1] Detective Comics #40 (1940) – First appearance of Clayface [2] Daily Mail – “Clayface FIRST LOOK: Tom Rhys Harries looks unrecognisable as battered and bloodied Batman nemesis while filming in Liverpool city centre” – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15051773/Clayface-LOOK-Tom-Rhys-Harries-looks-unrecognisable-battered-bloodied-Batman-nemesis-filming-Liverpool-city-centre.html [3] Just Jared – “Tom Rhys Harries Films First ‘Clayface’ Scenes – See Every Set Photo!” – https://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/5195813/clayface-set-photos-august-2025-02/ [4] Screen Rant – “Clayface Movie Begins Filming: First Set Photos Revealed” – https://screenrant.com/clayface-movie-batman-villain-set-photos-filming-begins/
What do you think about this new take on Clayface? Are you excited to see Tom Rhys Harries transform into one of Batman’s most terrifying villains? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow us for more DC Universe news and updates!
