Clayface is officially part of the DC Universe, and its placement in the franchise is unlike anything DC Studios has done before. The upcoming R-rated body horror film takes place before Superman, making it the first DCU movie to arrive out of chronological order. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn confirmed the news directly, writing on Threads: “Before. It’s the first DCU film out of chronological order.”
That single answer changes how fans should view the entire franchise. The movie hits theaters on October 23, 2026, but the story it tells happens years before the events of Superman and Creature Commandos. Here is everything confirmed about where Clayface fits, who he is, and what it means for the wider DCU.
Clayface Is the Same Character From Creature Commandos
Fans who watched the animated series Creature Commandos already met Clayface. He appeared as a shapeshifting villain voiced by Alan Tudyk, fighting Rick Flag Sr. and Frankenstein. Many assumed the live-action movie would feature a different version of the character, since multiple people have used the Clayface name in DC Comics.
DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran cleared this up. He told Entertainment Weekly that Tom Rhys Harries plays “the same Clayface” from the animated show. The movie is a direct prequel to Creature Commandos, showing how Matt Hagen became the monster audiences already saw.
“Yes, it is the same Clayface.”
This is a major world-building move. Animation and live-action rarely share the same continuity in comic book franchises. DC is doing exactly that, treating Creature Commandos as required viewing for understanding the full story of Matt Hagen.
The Movie Takes Place Before Superman and Supergirl
Superman arrived in 2025. Supergirl followed in June 2026. Clayface releases after both of them in theaters, but the story is set before either one.
Gunn explained that Clayface predates Superman, which means the film serves as an origin point for the DCU timeline. Clayface likely also takes place before Creature Commandos, since the animated series showed him already using his powers. The movie explains how he got them.
This makes Clayface the starting point of the DCU chronologically. Audiences will see Gotham City years before Superman ever flies across Metropolis.
What Is the Clayface Movie About?
The film follows Matt Hagen, a rising actor from Gotham City’s violent slums. He climbs his way to Hollywood stardom, but an affair with a mobster’s girlfriend leads to a brutal attack that leaves his face destroyed. Desperate to restore his appearance, Hagen turns to a scientist named Dr. Caitlin Corr (played by Naomi Ackie), who gives him an experimental serum. The treatment works at first, but it also changes his body, giving him the ability to reshape himself. He slowly transforms into a creature made of living clay.
Director James Watkins described the film as a Cronenberg-style body horror. Safran called it “the true body horror of a Cronenberg-type movie” and said it “leans into horror and psychological thriller” in a way that sets it apart from traditional superhero films.
The creators are keeping Hagen’s final monstrous form hidden from all marketing. Watkins explained the choice by referencing Jaws: “You don’t want to show the shark. I think people give away too much. I believe in the power of mystery and the power of suggestion.”
Why Batman Is Not in Clayface
Gotham City is the main setting. Clayface is one of Batman’s most famous enemies. Yet Batman does not appear in the film.
No actor has been cast as the DCU’s Batman yet. The character will make his proper debut in The Brave and the Bold, which still has no release date or finished script. Director James Watkins confirmed Batman will not make a cameo in Clayface.
The story focuses entirely on Hagen’s tragedy. It shows Gotham from the perspective of a man who becomes a monster, not from the perspective of a hero who fights monsters. That choice keeps the film self-contained and lets it work as a pure horror story for viewers who do not follow every DC project.
Who Stars in Clayface?
The cast includes:
- Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen / Clayface
- Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlin Corr
- David Dencik
- Max Minghella as John Borelli, a Gotham police detective
- Eddie Marsan
- Nancy Carroll
- Joshua James
Mike Flanagan wrote the screenplay, with Hossein Amini co-writing. Flanagan was inspired by the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Feat of Clay” from 1992. He was too busy with other projects to direct, so James Watkins (Speak No Evil, Eden Lake) took the director’s chair. Producers include Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran.
Global Release Dates and Where to Watch
Clayface will be released only in theaters and IMAX. There is no streaming release planned for day one.
- North America: October 23, 2026
- International: Beginning October 21, 2026
- Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
Fans in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other markets will all see the film on the big screen. A digital release date has not been announced.
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Why This Matters for the DCU
Gunn has said the DCU will follow a Star Wars-style timeline, telling stories across different eras rather than moving in a straight line like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Clayface is the first film to put that plan into action.
The movie also proves that DC is willing to mix genres. Superman was a hopeful superhero story. Creature Commandos was a violent animated series. Clayface is a psychological body horror film with an R rating. Each project stands on its own while sharing the same universe.
“It’s very connected, but as always the standalone story is what’s most important.”
The film had a budget of around $40 million, which is low for a comic book movie. That means it does not need to earn superhero-level box office numbers to succeed. A modest hit could be enough to keep the DCU’s experimental approach alive.
Also Read: Aaron Paul’s Mystery Role in Clayface: What the Leak Reveals
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