What Happened to ‘Clayface’ DC’s Halloween Body Horror Movie Release Date and Cast

For those who may have missed it, the story of what happened to ‘Clayface’ is quite extensive. The shape-shifting villain from Batman, once a minor character in discussions about Gotham’s rogues, is now set to star in the third feature of James Gunn’s revamped DC Universe.

After several delays, a change in directors, and a lengthy casting process, the film is officially scheduled for theatrical release on October 23, 2026. What has emerged is a genuinely surprising body horror narrative that diverges significantly from typical superhero films.

The journey to this point began years before filming commenced. Filmmaker Mike Flanagan expressed interest in creating a standalone Clayface movie as early as January 2021, inspired by a beloved portrayal of the character in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. He pitched the concept to the newly established DC Studios in March 2023, and the project received the green light in December 2024 as part of the new DCU.

Although Flanagan wrote the screenplay, he was unable to direct due to scheduling conflicts with his upcoming ‘Exorcist’ film and a ‘Carrie’ miniseries. In February 2025, James Watkins of ‘Speak No Evil’ took over as director, with screenwriter Hossein Amini brought in for a rewrite a few months later.

Principal photography began on August 31, 2025, in Liverpool, England, under the working title ‘Corinthians’. Filming concluded in early November of that year, moving between various Liverpool locations and the Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden soundstages.

Initially set for release on September 11, 2026, Warner Bros. later shifted the date to October 23, 2026, to capitalize on the Halloween season. Studio executives reportedly viewed it as an event horror release akin to recent genre blockbusters.

The search for an actor to portray Matt Hagen became a story in itself. Tom Blyth, George MacKay, Jack O’Connell, and Leo Woodall were all considered and auditioned for the lead role in early June 2025, but Gunn and Safran opted to expand their search.

Ultimately, Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries was cast as Matt Hagen and Clayface on June 17, 2025. Naomi Ackie was chosen to play Dr. Caitlin Bates, the scientist responsible for creating Clayface, while Max Minghella was cast as a Gotham City police detective who is romantically involved with her character.

Eddie Marsan joined the cast in an undisclosed role around the start of filming, and David Dencik was added in early 2026. The teaser trailer revealed that Nancy Carroll and Joshua James would also appear in the film.

This impressive lineup of British and acclaimed drama actors aligns with the project’s ambitious tone. The film is produced by Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran, with Michael E. Uslan serving as an executive producer.

This is not your typical superhero movie, and the creative team is upfront about it. The project has been described as Cronenberg-esque, with specific references made to David Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of ‘The Fly’. It marks DC Studios’ first venture into the horror genre, being the first DC-branded horror film since Wes Craven’s ‘Swamp Thing’ in 1982.

The teaser trailer, released on April 22, 2026, depicts Hagen in a hospital bed with a bloody, bandaged face after being attacked by a knife-wielding assailant. He is then injected with mysterious chemicals that grant him shapeshifting abilities. In the trailer’s final moments, he completely wipes away his face while sitting in a bathtub.

James Gunn has openly discussed the film’s tonal shift, telling CBS Mornings that it is a complete horror movie and that DC Studios aims for diversity in its projects. He has praised the screenplay, stating that the team delivered one of the best scripts they had ever read.

Co-star Max Minghella has confirmed that the body horror aspect is not merely a marketing gimmick, calling the script fantastic and acknowledging that the film truly embraces its horror elements. Early reactions from CinemaCon described the experience as a blend of psychological dread and outright discomfort.

Despite its dark tone, this film is very much a part of the larger DCU narrative. ‘Clayface’ is the third installment in Chapter One titled Gods and Monsters, following ‘Superman’ and the upcoming ‘Supergirl’.

Matt Reeves is producing alongside Gunn, Safran, and Lynn Harris, reflecting the lengthy journey the idea took before arriving at its current form. Reeves had considered using Clayface as a villain in his ‘The Batman’ sequel or developing a solo project similar to ‘The Penguin’ at various points.

Gunn has clarified that Watkins’ ‘Clayface’ exists independently of Reeves’ Batman continuity but is integrated into the broader DCU, set before the events of Gunn’s ‘Superman’ and offering the first real glimpse of the new DCU’s Gotham City. A set photo featuring ‘The Batman’ logo briefly sparked crossover rumors, which Gunn promptly dismissed.

With horror veterans behind the camera, a prestigious cast in front of it, and a Halloween release date, what happened to ‘Clayface’ ultimately reveals itself as one of the most distinctive and daring projects in DC’s upcoming lineup.