Oscar-winning actor Kieran Culkin is stepping into the world of animation. Walt Disney Animation Studios announced at the D23 fan event on August 14, 2026, that Culkin will lead the voice cast of its upcoming original film ‘Clay’ . The movie is scheduled to arrive in theaters in November 2028 .
Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush revealed the project during the studio’s Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California . The announcement was part of a packed presentation that also included updates on Zootopia 3, Frozen 3, and the animated film Hexed starring Hailee Steinfeld, Jodie Foster, and Walton Goggins .
What Is ‘Clay’ About?
Clay tells the story of Flip, a man who volunteers to become his village’s next great mentor. But his first student is not what anyone would expect — it is a literal ball of clay named Mushi (also spelled Mooshy in some reports) that is born right at that moment .
The twist? Flip is a terrible mentor. Bush explained the creative process behind the film during the D23 presentation:
“We have a rich history of stories that celebrate inspiring mentors and their aspirational students. So, with that in mind, we asked ourselves one very important question: What if the next Disney mentor stunk?”
Flip’s response to his new responsibility is to run away in the middle of the night. But Mushi proves to be inescapable and pure chaos. Now out in the wild, Flip must keep Mushi alive during a journey through a fantastical forest .
The studio also showed concept art for the film, giving audiences a first look at its distinctive fantasy world .
Culkin’s Voice Role and Character
Kieran Culkin will voice the main character Flip . The actor who will provide the voice for Mushi has not yet been announced .
Disney also confirmed the film’s director. Fawn Veerasunthorn will direct Clay, with Peter Del Vecho serving as producer . Veerasunthorn is currently also working on Hexed alongside Jason Hand.
From ‘Succession’ to Disney Animation
Culkin is widely known for his Emmy-winning performance as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession . He won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for that role .
In 2025, Culkin added more major awards to his collection. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for his performance in A Real Pain .
Coming up, Culkin has several other projects in the works. He will play Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping — the character originally played by Stanley Tucci in the earlier films . He also has a role in Nancy Meyers’ upcoming Warner Bros. film, which is expected for release in 2027 .
Fan Reactions to the Announcement
Social media users responded to the news with a mix of excitement and curiosity. One fan on X wrote:
“It’s AMAZING to see a new Disney Animation movie! The story looks unique and the designs are very interesting!”
Another user shared their surprise at the concept, posting:
“This is nothing like I expected but I like It already!”
Some fans expressed caution about how the final film will turn out, with one comment noting concerns about studio interference . The announcement also sparked some confusion about the film’s title, with one forum user asking: “Wait I’m confused so is it called Flip or Clay lol” .
The character names have also varied across different reports, with some sources referring to the clay character as “Mushi” while others use “Mooshy”.
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Disney’s 2028 Slate
Clay is set for a November 2028 theatrical release . The film joins a busy lineup for Disney Animation, which also announced Zootopia 3 and new additions to Hexed during the D23 showcase .
Pixar, Disney’s sister studio, also showed off its upcoming projects including Incredibles 3 and Coco 2 .
The D23 event, which runs from August 14 through August 16, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center and Honda Center, is Disney’s ultimate fan event where the studio makes its biggest announcements .
Also Read: Eric André Reveals Why He Passed on Kieran Culkin’s Award-Winning Role in A Real Pain
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