With the recent release of the Clayface trailer and various types of marketing, DC fans are buzzing with excitement – as is the horror community. Clayface promises body horror to its most violent.
James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe promises to deliver exactly what long-time fans have been waiting for. This change greenlights the potential release of darker films. One thing DC does right is produce iconic bad guys. Batman’s rogue gallery of villains arguably possesses some of the best of these deviants, including the lesser-known Clayface. Villains like Clayface perfectly capture the greatest components of horror films, so the decision to introduce Clayface to mainstream media via a horror movie is genius.
Before discussing how incredible the concept and trailer are, we must revisit the creation of this tragic character to prepare for his big-screen debut. After all, Clayface has always wanted to be famous. Let us give him the recognition he deserves.
First appearances
This grotesque fiend was first introduced in Detective Comics in 1940. These comics debut Batman for the first time in issue #27, released in 1939. Clayface would appear in #40. The name Clayface was a codename used by several characters throughout the DC Universe. He’s appeared in several comics with varying origins, but his most well-known storyline is seen in Batman: The Animated Series.
He first appears in the episode “Feat of Clay: Part 1.” According to Batman: The Animated Series Wiki, Matt Hagan was a prominent actor who was disfigured by a tragic car accident. Roland Daggett, an industrialist, approached the recovering actor with a compound called “Renuyu.” The substance would allow Hagan to reshape his face to its original state or allow him to become someone else.
However, the effects were temporary, meaning he would return to his disfigured condition. Addicted to its effectiveness, Hagan was forced to impersonate people for Daggett illegally.
After an encounter with Batman while committing a crime for Daggett, a frightened Hagan would attempt to steal enough of the substance to free himself from Daggett. He would be caught and punished by Daggett’s henchmen, who attempt to kill him by pouring an extreme amount of the chemical onto his face. Instead of killing him, the chemical assimilated every cell of his body. This altered Hagan’s body completely, transforming him into the shape-shifting, clay-like anomaly.
Clayface would appear in various other series, such as The Batman, Gotham, Pennyworth, and Harley Quinn, to name a few popular ones. He would also appear in two episodes of the hit series Creature Commandos.
Clayface 2026 trailer
90 years after his first appearance, Clayface is starring in his own feature film. The first official trailer was released on April 22, 2026.
Set to be released on October 23, 2026, the film teases incredible practical effects to achieve extreme body horror. There is a lot to cover, from the hidden references to the wonderful marketing strategies to build a ton of excitement! I also want to note how effective the song choice is. There is something about seeing Hagan’s brutally battered face while the song loops “beautiful face.”
The full trailer offers breathtaking shots with subtle hints of previous Clayface appearances, along with a few nods to The Fly (1986) and The Substance (2024).
The Fly (1986)
The Fly follows a scientist who slowly turns into a fly-hybrid creature after a failed experiment. The film is one of the most influential body-horror flicks, with its grotesque makeup effects both fascinating and stomach-turning. Though it follows a very different plot, the trailer for Clayface features some of the same visuals. Or both transformations are terrifying mutations of the human body. Of course, it doesn’t help that these transformations look so painful.
The Substance (2024)
The Substance follows a fading actress who uses a black market drug that allows her to create a younger, better version of herself. Her continued misuse of the drug has traumatic, extreme, and body-altering side effects. This film is another incredible body horror with social commentary about women’s bodies and the societal pressure of remaining youthful. Clayface follows a similarly tragic tale of a fading actor’s use of a compound to remain relevant.
About the film
The next section will cover the film in more detail, including what we know about the plot, the cast, and the directors. I will also cover the audience reactions so far.
Plot summary
The film takes some inspiration from Batman: The Animated Series, but separates Batman from the narrative and focuses on Clayface. Matt Hagan (Tom Rhys Harries) is a struggling actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. He turns to a scientist, played by Naomi Ackie, who performs an experimental procedure to fix his face. In the trailer, Hagan is injected with a substance that is likely the cause of his transformation. It is unclear if the film will follow the animated series in following Hagan’s substance abuse and then seeking revenge on the gangster, or if it will take a new route.
Cast
Tom Rhys Harries, best known for White Lines, will be starring as Matt Hagan. Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice) co-stars as the scientist and potential love interest. The cast also includes Max Minghella (Spiral), Eddie Marsan (Happy-Go-Lucky), and David Dencik (No Time To Die).
Director
James Watkins, who has previously worked on Speak No Evil, Eden Lake, The Woman in Black, and several Black Mirror episodes, will direct Clayface. The script for Clayface is co-written with Mike Flanagan, who is credited for The Haunting of Hill House. Midnight Mass, and other big horror projects. The key takeaway here is that Clayface is in great hands.
DC’s future
The future of DC is now in the hands of James Gunn. Clayface falls into his first phase, Gods and Monsters. This news is exciting for long-time DC fans and could potentially draw in horror fans as well. Clayface is one of many unused Batman villains that could draw in a new audience and a lot of attention. DC’s greatest failure is the overuse of The Joker. While the clown prince of crime is truly a marvel of a character, he’s grown predictable. Even his ex-lover, Harley Quinn, has become so popular that they’re no longer exciting.
If DC intends to continue keeping these popular characters relevant, can they at least adapt new plotlines instead of consistently recycling material?
Or better yet, give us more with darker characters. Take Scarecrow, for example. When has DC given him a chance to unlock his greater potential? Or Mr. Freeze. Manbat? Calendar Man? Killer Croc even has the potential to deliver an awesome concept. The best way to introduce these characters is to do exactly what is being done with Clayface. Give us horror. Give us social commentary.
Quit relying on nostalgia and cheesy tropes that dilute these fascinating storylines. If DC wants to continue to find success, give the fans a similar vibe to Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022). Gunn’s universe is extremely exciting as he is willing to deliver hope with Superman (2025) and horror with Clayface.
I hope this film succeeds and inspires other DC horror films. With comics like DC Horror and DC Vampires, there is so much material to deliver a refreshing take on the superhero genre.
