James Gunn Will Officially Canonize 7 Major Batman Villains Into the DCU In 2026

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The upcoming Clayface movie, slated for 2026, will officially establish several comic book villains as part of the new DC Universe (DCU). Directed by James Watkins and produced by James Gunn and Peter Safran of DC Studios, this body horror film is unique because it’s the first DCU project to explore Batman’s world. Since the DCU hasn’t yet introduced Batman himself, Clayface has the opportunity to introduce its own versions of familiar characters from the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery.

As a huge DC fan, I’m so excited for the Clayface movie! It’s going to be the first film in the new DCU actually set in Gotham City – the place where so many of our favorite heroes and villains live. We got some sneaky peeks from the set during filming in 2025, and it looks like a lot of classic DC bad guys will officially be part of the DCU when Clayface comes out on October 23rd. I can’t wait to see how it all connects!

The DCU Is About to Canonize These Batman Villains

Clayface

The main focus of the show will be Clayface. While many characters have been Clayface in DC comics, the upcoming DCU version will be Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries. He’s a struggling actor who transforms into a living clay creature after injecting himself with an experimental formula.

This movie marks the first-ever live-action appearance of this DC villain, and it’s even his first time headlining a film. The movie will fully establish Clayface as a distinct villain, potentially setting him up for future appearances in other DC Universe projects if the film performs well.

Joker

The Joker is likely DC Comics’ most well-known villain. As Batman’s iconic enemy, he’s a chaotic and disturbed character who has appeared in many films, including the recent The Batman directed by Matt Reeves.

A flyer referencing the Joker was found on the set of Clayface. The flyer called on Gotham citizens to protest the GCPD and align themselves with the Joker, hinting that he was already operating in the city.

It’s still unclear if the Joker will directly interact with Clayface, or if this is simply a hint that he’ll appear in the DC Universe at some point.

Black Mask

Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask – the main villain from the Birds of Prey movie – might be returning in the new DC Universe. Photos from the set of the Clayface project, shared on X, show signs for Sionis Industries, suggesting his involvement.

Roman Sionis is the real name of the villain Black Mask. He’s the owner of Sionis Industries, a company that makes cosmetics in the comic books, but steel and metal in the Batman: Arkham video games. The company’s appearance in Clayface suggests that when the DC Universe’s Gotham City is fully realized, it will be populated by many of Batman’s most famous enemies.

The Mad Bomber

The Mad Bomber is a somewhat obscure, but still dangerous, DC villain. Many fans will recognize him from Batman: The Animated Series. Real name Ted Dymer, he was a toy store employee who began committing crimes by imitating a character from the old TV show ‘The Gray Ghost’.

Fans noticed a possible clue about the Mad Bomber in the show Clayface. Someone shared a photo on Reddit of graffiti with the villain’s name appearing on the set.

King Snake / The Ghost Dragons

Set photos from the Clayface filming location, shared on Reddit, showed graffiti that suggests another DC villainous group will appear: the Ghost Dragons. In DC comics, the Ghost Dragons are a street gang led by King Snake, whose real name is Edmund Dorrance – a former mercenary who became a gang leader.

I was on set for Clayface and noticed some intriguing activity – specifically, signs pointing to the King Snake and the Ghost Dragons. These guys are a notorious Triad gang who usually operate in Gotham’s Chinatown, constantly battling other criminal organizations for control. While it’s not confirmed they’ll actually be in the film, their presence definitely suggests a much larger, and dangerous, criminal underworld is brewing beneath the surface of Gotham. It’s a smart move, really, hinting at a richer, more complex criminal landscape.

Jimmy McCoy

A prop newspaper from the set of the Clayface movie revealed a new character in the DC Universe: Jimmy McCoy. The newspaper’s headline announced that Jimmy ‘Red’ McCoy, the leader of the Crime Syndicate, is being investigated for tax evasion, and his lawyers are preparing for a major legal battle.

Jimmy “Red” McCoy first appeared as a villain in early Batman comics, and now appears to be filling a similar gangster role in the Clayface series. It’s currently unknown how important McCoy will be to the overall story, but the criminal underworld of Gotham City in the DC Universe seems to be populated with many of Batman’s classic enemies.

The Penguin

Okay, so I was checking out some photos from the Clayface set, and I spotted something really interesting – a flyer! It was an ad for this place called “The One, The Only: Penguin Mad” down in Amusement Mile, and the cartoon on the ad? Totally looked like Oswald Cobblepot, you know, The Penguin. It’s a pretty sneaky way to suggest he’s hanging around in this DC Universe, but as a Batman fan, I’m picking up what they’re putting down – Penguin might be coming!

Most fans know the Penguin from Matt Reeves’ The Batman movie and the HBO series The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb. But that version of the character exists in a separate continuity, meaning the new DC Universe (DCU) can create its own unique take on the Penguin, and that story could begin with the character Clayface.

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2026-04-11 07:41