James Gunn on Why Clayface Movie Fits DCU, Not Reeves' Batman Saga

James Gunn and Peter Safran, the co-chiefs of DCU, have recently provided exciting updates on the upcoming movie "Clayface." They've confirmed that this film will be part of the DCU canon and will carry an R rating, promising a unique cinematic experience. Clayface, known as one of Batman's oldest adversaries, was first introduced as Basil Karlo in Detective Comics #40 back in 1940. With the power to morph his clay-like body into any shape or form, this former Gotham City criminal adds a fascinating dimension to the DCU.

DC Studios announced last month that "Clayface" is slated for release on September 11, 2026. The decision to bring this character to the big screen was influenced by the success of HBO's "The Penguin" series. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan is set to write the screenplay, with Lynn Harris and "The Batman" director Matt Reeves attached as producers.

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During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn and Safran clarified the distinction between the DCU and Matt Reeves' "The Batman Epic Crime Saga." Gunn stated, "Clayface is totally DCU," emphasizing its place within the broader universe. Safran added, "The only thing that's in Matt's world, his Crime Saga that he's telling, is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series, that's in that lane. So still under DC Studios, still under us. We have an incredible relationship with Matt, but those are the only things."

They further explained that integrating Clayface into the DCU was crucial. "It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It's an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world," said Gunn. He also noted that Clayface wouldn't fit within the more grounded narrative of Reeves' saga, stating, "It was very outside of the grounded non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world."

Safran revealed that DC Studios is currently negotiating with James Watkins, the director of "Speak No Evil," to helm "Clayface." Filming is scheduled to begin this summer. "This summer, cameras are going to roll on Clayface, an incredible body horror film that reveals a compelling origin of a classic Batman villain, and this is another title that we added to the slate on the strength of an exceptional screenplay by Mike Flanagan," Safran stated.

Throughout the presentation, Safran described "Clayface" as "experimental," differentiating it from traditional superhero films by labeling it an "indie style chiller." Gunn emphasized the film's horror elements, calling it "pure f***ing horror, like, totally real. Their version of that movie, it is so real and true and psychological and body horror and gross."

Confirming the film's R rating, Gunn added, "I think that one of the things Peter and I talked about when we first got the script is if we were producing movies five years ago when we were doing Belko Experiment and all of that stuff, and somebody had brought us this horror script called Clayface about this guy, we would have died to have produced this movie, because it was just a really excellent body horror script, and the fact that it's in the DCU is just a plus."