From Collider · Tamera Jones · · 2m
DC Studios Boss Peter Safran Confirms Batman in Gotham During 'Clayface'
DC Studios boss Peter Safran confirms Batman operates in Gotham City during 'Clayface' film's events.
In brief
DC Studios boss Peter Safran confirms Batman operates in Gotham City during 'Clayface' film's events. DC Studios boss Peter Safran confirms Batman is active in Gotham City during the events of the 'Clayface' movie. Originally reported by Collider.
Clayface Movie Announcement
DC Studios chairmen James Gunn and Peter Safran announced their first slate of projects to introduce audiences to the newly mapped-out DC Universe in 2023.
Clayface Origin Story
Clayface is the origin story of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a.k.a. Batman's tragic titular adversary.
Director James Watkins
Director James Watkins (Speak No Evil) and writing partner Hossein Amini (Drive) explore the twisted story of how one of Hollywood’s leading men transformed into the infamous supervillain.
Casting Tom Rhys Harries
Tom Rhys Harries was cast as Matt Hagen after winning the role based on his audition, screen test, and callback.
Body Horror Approach
The film features intense body horror, including scarring and operations, without compromising the character's journey.
Batman in Gotham
Peter Safran confirms Batman is already operating in Gotham City during the events of Clayface.
Gotham City Design
Gotham City is depicted as dirty and grounded, reflecting the 1970s and 1980s, contrasting with Coast City's bright, sunny Los Angeles vibe.
DCU 10-Year Plan
DC Studios has a 10-year plan with a slate of films including Clayface, Superman, and others to explore different genres across the DC Universe.
Budget for Clayface
Clayface is a $40-50 million film, a modest budget compared to DC's other projects like Superman.
Horror Film Focus
The film is a pure horror movie with no compromises, leaning into body horror without MPAA pushback.
Release Date
Clayface releases in theaters on October 23, 2026, with a runtime of 108 minutes.
DCU Live-Action Gotham
Gotham City is introduced as the live-action setting for DC's upcoming films, with Batman already active.
Casting Strategy
DC Studios prefers unknown actors to embody characters without audience distractions from prior roles.
Director's Vision
James Watkins focused on making Matt Hagen a likeable character at the beginning of the film to build empathy.
Horror Film Appeal
Horror fans unfamiliar with comics can enjoy Clayface as a standalone horror story without comic knowledge.
DCU Future Plans
DC Studios plans to continue making films like Clayface, Superman, and others across different genres and budgets.
What it means
DC Studios boss Peter Safran confirms Batman is active in Gotham City during the events of the 'Clayface' movie.
