DC’s 95% RT Show Is The Prequel DCU’s Clayface Needed

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The DC Universe (DCU) is developing a project centered around the villain Clayface. It could follow a similar storyline to the popular animated series Creature Commandos which kicked off the DCU in 2024. That series focused on a team of monsters undertaking a risky mission. Following Creature Commandos, the successful Superman film, starring David Corenswet, was released in 2025 and grossed over $618 million globally. Most recently, season two of Peacemaker, featuring John Cena, premiered.

In 2026, DCU will release three new projects: Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface. Clayface stands out as a particularly different kind of superhero film – it’s a horror movie rated R, delving into the backstory of one of Batman’s most formidable foes. Directed by James Watkins, the film stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose life changes dramatically when a scientific experiment turns his body into clay.

A new trailer for the movie Clayface has been released, giving fans a glimpse of its scary atmosphere. The trailer shows Hagen lying in a hospital bed, his head covered in bandages. As the camera focuses on his face, quick cuts show scenes from the film, including a disturbing image of him wiping something off his face while in a bathtub.

Although Clayface is traditionally a villain, the movie seems to be presenting him in a more sympathetic light. The trailer suggests his life is destroyed by a new condition, which leads him down a dark path. This approach is similar to the recent film The Penguin, which successfully made its villain relatable despite his harmful actions.

The Penguin Is An Excellent Model For A Batman Villain Story

The 2022 film The Batman gave us a look into Gotham City’s criminal world and introduced Colin Farrell as Oz Cobb, the trusted aide to crime boss Carmine Falcone. Following Falcone’s death, the series The Penguin focuses on Oz’s attempt to take control of the city’s criminal operations. The show depicts Oz as someone underestimated who is determined to prove himself, both to those who doubt him and to his mother, whose approval he desperately seeks.

Oz commits terrible acts throughout the show, but as we learn more about his past, it’s hard not to feel sorry for him. He’s always been desperate to prove himself, and that need for respect drove him to do awful things. Though he achieves some success, the ending for The Penguin – specifically, his murder of Vic and his cruel treatment of his mother after her stroke – reminds us of his villainous core. It’s a strong conclusion that completes his story arc while staying true to his character as a villain.

Clayface Should Still Be A Villain By The End Of The Film

Many villain movies lately have turned their characters into anti-heroes, essentially portraying them as heroes instead of villains – films like Morbius and Kraven the Hunter are examples. But a Clayface movie should stick to the villainous roots of the character, and for two key reasons. Firstly, it would make for a stronger story. A truly villainous main character, one who commits terrible acts, can be far more compelling than a misunderstood anti-hero, as demonstrated by the success of The Penguin.

The DC Universe has already confirmed Clayface as a villain within its established story. In Creature Commandos, he’s shown as a hired assassin, tasked with killing and taking the place of a professor. Rick Flag Sr. and Frankenstein investigate and manage to defeat him, though not without sustaining injuries. He proved to be a powerful enemy, and the upcoming film should explore how he became that way. While the film will likely show a sympathetic side to Clayface, it’s important that he remains the villain by the end, consistent with the DCU’s established canon.

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2026-05-01 15:40