‘Clayface’ Final Trailer Transforms DC’s Batman Villain Into a Body-Horror Nightmare

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Superhero enthusiasts have witnessed Gotham’s rogues gallery in various forms, but few portrayals are as unsettling as what DC Studios is set to unveil. The studio is venturing into new territory with its first-ever horror film, and the latest footage indicates it is not holding back. If previous previews piqued your interest in ‘Clayface’, the final trailer is sure to leave you squirming.

On Thursday, DC Studios and Warner Bros. released the final trailer for the film, a 1-minute, 38-second preview shared by DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. The movie is set to hit theaters in North America on October 23, with an international rollout beginning on October 21. It carries an R rating for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity, and brief drug use, marking it as the DCU’s first R-rated film.

The new footage shifts focus from how Matt Hagen becomes Clayface to the violent, tragic aftermath of his transformation. GamesRadar noted that the trailer evokes ‘Joker’, portraying Hagen as a victim of a cruel Gotham, with his shapeshifting ability leading him toward murderous villainy. It also provides the best glimpse yet of the character’s final form.

Body horror takes center stage. One sequence depicts Hagen preparing to cut open his eye flaps with a pair of nail scissors during a bumpy flight, and ComicBook.com described the trailer as the most gruesome yet. It features moments of his face being cut into and several scenes showcasing his drooping, changing skin following a procedure meant to reverse the damage.

The official synopsis presents it as a tragedy. Matt Hagen’s rapid rise from a Gotham street kid to a Hollywood leading man is abruptly halted when a crime boss’s actions leave him horrifically disfigured. Abandoned by his team, he seeks a cutting-edge treatment that restores his former self but erodes his grip on reality, driving him toward all-consuming revenge.

Tom Rhys Harries stars as Hagen, joined by Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan, with Nancy Carroll and Joshua James also part of the cast.

Directed by James Watkins, known for ‘Eden Lake’, ‘The Woman in Black’, and the ‘Speak No Evil’ remake, along with the ‘Black Mirror’ episode ‘Shut Up and Dance’, the screenplay is penned by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, based on a story by Flanagan. Producers include Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran.

Gunn mentioned he never intended to create a Clayface movie until Flanagan pitched the concept. He was impressed by the first draft, and the second was even better, leading DC to find a place for it. In his post sharing the trailer, he expressed excitement about sharing a movie so lovingly crafted by Watkins.

The film will be part of the DCU, unlike Reeves’s ‘The Batman’ or Todd Phillips’s ‘Joker’ films, and is included in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Production took place from late August to early November 2025 in Liverpool and on soundstages at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.

Compared to recent DC releases, the financial stakes are relatively modest. The budget is reported to be around $40 million, with one analysis estimating the break-even point between $80 million and $100 million worldwide. Tracking indicates an opening in the $20 million to $26 million range, with an earlier NRG projection placing the film near $23.5 million.

This is significant because the DCU is in need of a win. While ‘Superman’ was a success, it didn’t quite meet DC’s expectations, and ‘Supergirl’ concluded its theatrical run with just $125.8 million worldwide. A tight, lower-cost horror release could help reset the conversation.

However, not everyone is convinced yet. World of Reel pointed out that the marketing has heavily focused on mood and gross-out moments, leaving it uncertain whether there is depth beneath the body horror, which a tragic-villain origin story requires. Reviews will determine if Watkins and Flanagan have delivered more than just shocks.

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