Clayface: Horror Director in the Running

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As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that DC Studios is gearing up for their Clayface movie, with a chilling screenplay penned by the master of horror, Mike Flanagan. The film is currently slated for release on September 11, 2026. Now, the focus is on selecting the ideal director to bring this project to life. The DC bigwigs have two promising candidates in their sights.

By the given deadline, Jeff Wadlow and James Watkins are being strongly considered for the director position, and DC Studios plans to listen to their pitch ideas next week. Other directors may also be under consideration, but these two names are currently standing out. Jeff Wadlow has just recently directed the horror film “Imaginary” last year, and his other projects include “Truth or Dare”, the remake of “Fantasy Island”, “Kick-Ass 2”, and several others. Although not all of his horror films have received positive reviews, some have been moderate box office successes for their respective studios.

As a cinephile myself, I must admit that Watkins has outdone expectations with his recent American remake of “Speak No Evil.” Even though the original Danish film has gained a reputation among horror enthusiasts as a must-watch, Watkins’ adaptation stands tall on its own merits. This isn’t surprising when you consider his previous work in the horror genre, such as “Eden Lake,” which featured Michael Fassbender and received positive reviews, or “The Woman in Black” from 2012, a supernatural horror film that starred Daniel Radcliffe. Clearly, Watkins has a knack for creating chilling cinematic experiences that resonate with audiences.

It appears that since Flanagan authored the script and the leading director candidates primarily focus on horror films, it’s evident that DC Studios intends for Clayface to have a stronger emphasis in the horror genre. The co-CEOs of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, are overseeing production along with Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris.

Why Isn’t Mike Flanagan Directing Clayface?

Although Flanagan wrote the script, it seems he was never seriously considered as the director for the film after he inherited The Exorcist from Warner Bros., following David Gordon Green’s unsuccessful venture with The Exorcist: Believer. Reports suggest that the studio aims to make Clayface a horror-thriller that emphasizes the character’s tragic backstory, deviating somewhat from the original Batman comic book portrayal.

Clayface, a character brought to life by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, made his debut in Detective Comics #40 back in 1940, portrayed as Basil Karlo. Karlo was a secondary actor who ventured into a criminal lifestyle, adopting the persona of the villain he played in one of his horror films. In the 1950s, another Clayface emerged, this time Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter transformed after coming into contact with radioactive protoplasm, granting him the unique ability to change shapes. For many decades, Hagen became known as the embodiment of Clayface.

In essence, Preston Payne was the third manifestation of Clayface. A scientist with a knack for innovation, he utilized the plasma of the second Clayface to develop a remedy for his own condition – hyperpituitarism. Unfortunately, this experiment led to him becoming a malleable, clay-like entity, which could only live by infecting others with his affliction. This monstrous form often posed a threat to Batman in various ways. The character has made appearances outside of comic books, too; on TV shows like “Gotham” and “Pennyworth,” as well as animated series such as “Batman: The Animated Series,” “Harley Quinn,” and “Creature Commandos.” However, unlike his counterparts in other media, Clayface has yet to receive a big-screen, high-budget treatment. We’ll see how it unfolds in the future.

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2025-02-14 07:31