‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Features a Surprising Batman Easter Egg

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Viewers of the series It: Welcome to Derry may have noticed a hidden reference to Batman. The show, which expands on the story from the It movies, includes connections to other works by Stephen King, as well as some DC Comics issues. In the first episode, fans spotted a copy of The Flash #123, famous for its “Flash of Two Worlds” story, published in 1961. Another comic featured was Detective Comics Vol. 1 #298, also from December 1961. Because It: Welcome to Derry takes place in 1962, these comics are historically accurate for the setting and offer a nod to DC Comics history.

Andy Muschietti, the director behind the It films and the first episode of Welcome to Derry, is a fitting choice for the series. He previously directed The Flash, a film that explored multiverse concepts originating from the classic comic “The Flash of Two Worlds.” Muschietti is also slated to direct The Brave and the Bold, a future DCU Batman movie, having already directed two different actors – Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton – as Batman in The Flash.

This comic isn’t just a reference to Andy Muschietti’s DC Universe movies; it also introduces the version of Clayface who will appear in those films, played by Tom Rhys Harries. These comics offer significant clues about what’s coming in the DCU.

‘Clayface’ and ‘The Brave and the Bold’s DCU Future


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Just before the premiere of It: Welcome to Derry, James Gunn, co-president of DC Studios, posted a tribute to the villain Clayface on social media. He expressed excitement for actor Tom Rhys Harries’ portrayal of the character in the film. The image Gunn shared was a classic panel from Detective Comics #298, the very same one used in It: Welcome to Derry.

The next DC Universe film after Superman and Supergirl will be Clayface. James Watkins, known for The Woman in Black, will direct, based on an initial story idea from Mike Flanagan, with Hossein Amini later revising the script. Clayface is scheduled to be released on September 11, 2026, taking advantage of the successful post-Labor Day weekend Warner Bros. has used for horror movies like It and It Chapter Two.

A Clayface character already appeared in Creature Commandos. It’s currently unknown if this Clayface is the same one we’ll see in the upcoming DCU movie, or if it’s a different version from the comics. Creature Commandos also marked the first appearance of Batman in the DCU, though he only appeared briefly in the background.

Director Andy Muschietti says we’ll hear more about his upcoming Batman movie, currently titled The Brave and the Bold, very soon. He’s also confirmed he’s still directing, despite reports to the contrary. Importantly, this new Batman film will be separate from Matt Reeves’ The Batman starring Robert Pattinson; that version of the character won’t be included in the new DC Universe.

Currently, there’s no official release date for The Brave and the Bold movie. However, rumors suggest it might come out in 2028 to avoid clashing with The Batman – Part Two, scheduled for October 2027. A 2028 release would coincide with the animated film Dynamic Duo, which focuses on Robin. So far, the DC Universe has largely centered around Superman and Supergirl, but soon Gotham City’s characters will take center stage, starting with Clayface and The Brave and the Bold. Another film featuring Deathstroke and Bane is also in the works, and it may be based on the Salvation’s Run storyline, as DC Studios recently copyrighted the material.

The short film It: Welcome to Derry includes nods to director Andy Muschietti’s previous work on The Flash and potential future projects like The Brave and the Bold and a Clayface movie. It’s a clever Easter egg with layers of meaning, and thankfully a much better tease than the Sgt. Rock poster in After the Hunt, which alluded to a different, ultimately unrealized film. You can currently watch It: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max.

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2025-10-28 03:35