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- DC Studios has released the first trailer for Clayface
- The upcoming body-horror movie also has a new release date
- DC comic book fans are impressed with their first glimpse at the DCU film
DC Studios has revealed the first trailer for Clayface — and, despite how little footage it actually shows, fans are nonetheless impressed.
The forthcoming DC Universe (DCU) movie, which will make its theatrical debut in time for Halloween this year, will be the third big-screen project to come out as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's rebooted cinematic franchise. And, just one week after its teaser trailer wowed CinemaCon attendees, it's drawn similarly positive reactions from viewers following its public unveiling.
Clayface wasn't part of Gunn and Safran's initial DCU Chapter One lineup. However, the low-budget film was officially announced in December 2024, after the pair were left impressed by horror auteur Mike Flanagan's pitch to make a Clayface film in the vein of a body horror.
Article continues belowSix months later, Tom Rhys Harries was hired to play Clayface's lead character — real name Matt Hagen — with Gunn claiming that he, Safran, Flanagan, and director James Watkins were "blown away" by Harries' numerous auditions.
What is Clayface about? Who else is part of the cast? And what is its release date?
The aforementioned reveals aside, little else was known about Clayface's story and cast. Following the teaser's public premiere, though, we finally have some answers on that front.
Per a plot synopsis released by DC's parent company Warner Bros. Pictures alongside the teaser, Clayface will "unravel one man’s horrifying descent from rising Hollywood star to revenge-filled monster in a story that explores the loss of one’s identity and humanity, corrosive love, and the dark underbelly of scientific ambition."
Additionally, Warner Bros. also confirmed which actors will join lead star Harries in supporting roles:
- Naomi Ackie
- David Dencik
- Max Minghella
- Eddie Marsan
- Nancy Carroll
- Joshua James
None of the above stars' roles have been officially revealed, but the Clayface's new launch date has been.
Originally pencilled in to arrive on September 11, the first solo movie starring one of Batman's most iconic villains is now due out in cinemas worldwide on October 23. Given its body-horror vibe and likely R-rated action, releasing as close to the spookiest holiday of the year feels more apt than its initial release date.
How have DC fans reacted to Clayface's first trailer?
Looks great. If it is a cinematic retelling of the BTAS story... I AM SO IN. BTAS is one of the most tragic animated stories in batman... no... animation history. I love it.
As I alluded to in this article's introduction, very well.
Threads on the DC_Cinematic Reddit page and ResetEra forums, as well as reactions on other social platforms like X/Twitter, are full of comments from comic-book devotees waxing lyrical about the teaser's unsettling nature, dark tone, and ties to one of the most celebrated Clayface-centric stories of all-time. The tale in question? Feat of Clay, which is viewed as one of the best episodes of 90s animated show Batman: The Animated Series.
"I am physically uncomfortable [but] I love it," Redditor ColorblindSquid wrote. "Exactly the vibe I was hoping for. Looks like a proper horror movie," planemissediknow said, before adding: "Coupled with Flanagan writing, I can’t wait. If it hits even half as hard as Haunting of Hill House, it’s gonna be a banger."
Comment from r/DC_Cinematic
"Budget for this was $40 million?" ResetEra user Zor asked, before writing: "I'm honestly happy with that. Smaller scale, smaller budgets, big potential to expand the DC stuff without everything feeling like it needs to be tentpole."
"That was super freaky," Everyday Math agreed, adding: "Really good teaser. I don't need to see anymore". Meanwhile, Soap opined: "Fair play, that looks genuinely terrifying and not sanitised at all for being in the DCU."
Of course, Clayface's teaser doesn't answer the two biggest questions that fans have about it: Will Batman show up? And, considering that we've already seen a version of Clayface in season 1 of DCU's adult animated series Creature Commandos, is Clayface a prequel to that show, or does this mean that there are two Clayfaces running around in the DCU? I suspect we won't find out until Clayface is fully moulded on the big screen.
In the meantime, find out everything we know so far about Clayface. Then, get the full lowdown on Supergirl, aka the next DCU film that'll hit theaters, and learn more about Lanterns, which will officially air on HBO Max in August.
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