James Gunn Explains Why the Clayface Movie Had to Be a Part of the DCU and Not Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga

James Gunn and Peter Safran, co-heads of DC Studios, have confirmed that the upcoming Clayface film is officially part of the DC Universe (DCU) and will receive an R rating.

Clayface, a formidable Batman adversary with the ability to morph his clay-like body into anyone or anything, boasts a rich history in Gotham City. The character's first iteration, Basil Karlo, debuted in Detective Comics #40 (1940).

DC Studios announced a September 11, 2026, release date for the Clayface movie last month. This decision reportedly followed the success of HBO's The Penguin series. Horror master Mike Flanagan penned the script, with Lynn Harris producing alongside The Batman director Matt Reeves.

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During a DC Studios presentation attended by IGN, Gunn and Safran explained the film's placement within the DCU, differentiating it from Matt Reeves' The Batman Epic Crime Saga. Gunn confirmed, "Clayface is totally DCU." Safran clarified, "The only thing that's in Matt's world…is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series…still under DC Studios, still under us. We have an incredible relationship with Matt, but those are the only things. It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It's an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world.”

Gunn further explained that Clayface's tone wouldn't align with the grounded realism of Reeves' universe: "It was very outside of the grounded non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world.”

Negotiations with Speak No Evil director James Watkins to helm Clayface are reportedly nearing completion. Filming is scheduled to begin this summer. Safran stated, “This summer, cameras are going to roll on Clayface, an incredible body horror film that reveals a compelling origin of a classic Batman villain…another title that we added to the slate on the strength of an exceptional screenplay by Mike Flanagan.” He added that while Clayface may be less widely known than other villains, "we really feel that his story is equally resonant, compelling, and in many ways, more terrifying."

Safran described Clayface as "experimental," an "indie style chiller," differentiating it from a traditional superhero film. Gunn described it as "pure f***ing horror, like, totally real. Their version of that movie, it is so real and true and psychological and body horror and gross.”

The R rating was also confirmed by Gunn, stating that if presented with the script five years ago, they would have eagerly produced it due to its exceptional body horror elements. He emphasized that its inclusion in the DCU is a significant bonus.