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

DCU co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran recently confirmed the upcoming Clayface film, emphasizing its place within the DCU canon and its R-rating.

Clayface, a notorious Gotham City criminal with shape-shifting abilities, is a long-standing Batman adversary. The character's first iteration, Basil Karlo, debuted in Detective Comics #40 (1940). DC Studios announced a September 11, 2026 release date last month, a decision reportedly influenced by the success of HBO's The Penguin series. Horror maestro Mike Flanagan penned the script, with Lynn Harris producing alongside The Batman director Matt Reeves.

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Gunn and Safran, speaking at a DC Studios presentation, clarified Clayface's inclusion in the main DCU, distinguishing it from Matt Reeves' Batman-centric universe. "Clayface is entirely DCU," Gunn stated. Safran added, "Matt's world, his Crime Saga, encompasses only the Batman trilogy and The Penguin series. We maintain a strong relationship with Matt, but those are the only projects within that specific continuity."

The decision to place Clayface within the broader DCU was deliberate. "It's a crucial origin story for a classic Batman villain we wanted in our universe," Gunn explained, noting its incompatibility with the grounded tone of Reeves' films. "It's far removed from the grounded, non-superpowered metahuman characters in Matt's world," Gunn elaborated.

DC Studios is reportedly finalizing negotiations with Speak No Evil director James Watkins to helm the project, with filming anticipated to begin this summer. Safran described Clayface as "an exceptional body horror film revealing a compelling origin story," highlighting the strength of Flanagan's screenplay.

Safran described the film as "experimental," departing from the traditional superhero blockbuster format, characterizing it as an "indie-style chiller." Gunn further described it as "pure f***ing horror, totally realistic, deeply psychological, and intensely visceral."

The R-rating was also confirmed by Gunn, stating that if presented with the script five years prior, they would have eagerly produced it. He emphasized the script's exceptional quality, highlighting the added benefit of its inclusion within the DCU.