Forget capes and superpowers. DC’s Clayface is bringing body horror to the big screen, turning one of Batman’s classic villains into the star of a disturbing story about identity, obsession, and revenge.
Opening in U.S. theaters and IMAX on October 23, 2026, the film follows Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), a rising Hollywood actor whose promising career is destroyed after a brutal attack leaves his face disfigured.
Desperate to reclaim his looks and his future, Matt undergoes an experimental medical treatment. It works—at first. Then his body begins transforming into living clay, and his fight to regain control takes a terrifying turn.
A Different Kind of DC Movie
Directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake, Speak No Evil), Clayface leans into body horror and psychological suspense rather than traditional superhero action. Expect disturbing physical transformations, bloody violence, and a character slowly losing his grip on reality.
The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, and Eddie Marsan. The screenplay comes from Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Flanagan also receiving story credit.
Produced by DC Studios chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran, alongside The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves, the movie is part of the new DC Universe. Reeves serves as a producer, while Watkins takes the director’s chair.
Batman’s Villain Gets His Own Nightmare
Clayface has long been one of Batman’s most unusual enemies, known for his ability to reshape his body and impersonate others. This time, however, the story puts Matt Hagen front and center, exploring the tragic transformation that turns a desperate man into a monster.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity, and brief drug use, Clayface is clearly aimed at horror fans rather than younger superhero audiences.
The hook? A man gets the chance to reclaim his face, only to discover that the cure may cost him his identity. With its mix of comic-book mythology, psychological tension, and grotesque body horror, Clayface could offer DC fans something very different when it arrives in theaters this Friday.
