Looks like a major villain from the Batman universe is looking likely to get his time to shine of the big screen in one form or another.
Back in 2021 Mike Flanagan, he of Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House fame, had pitched a Clayface movie to DC that at the time many expected to be set in the same reality of Joker rather than the main DCU. It was something we were all very excited by but sadly, even though we called it a no-brainer at the time, the movie was canned (here).
Flanagan had said it was a DC project he would have loved to have got a stab at but it seemed that that time had passed.
But that was the old regime at DC/Warners.
Deadline is reporting that Flanagan and Trevor Macy (together they own Intrepid Pictures) met with new DC showrunners James Gunn and Peter Safran to pitch their idea once again and that no decision has been made yet – although it’s expected the character, should it go ahead, won’t be a villain in the typical sense.
Mike Flanagan says his proposed Clayface movie isn’t happening at DC/Warners
However, there seems to be a little confusion as to where exactly we might see Clayface, should it happen as some seem to think that DC are hoping to have Clayface appear in Matt Reeves’ The Batman sequel:
Let’s wait until the dust settles here and something moves forward. It remains to be seen whether Clayface is a connection between The Batman 2 Elseworlds and Gunn and Safran’s feature and series sprawling DC’s Gods and Monsters – Chapter One [the collective name for the new DCU Phase One].
In the comics, Clayface has been around since Detective Comics #40 way back in 1940 and he appeared as Basil Karlo, a failed actor come villain. After that there was a variety of Clayfaces over the years with most having the ability to shapeshift and mimic people; if done well, he could be an amazing character onscreen.
Flanagan’s original idea for Clayface was a “standalone….horror/thriller/tragedy”.
Flanagan has taken to social media to make it clear that nothing is happening yet: “The news today is entirely speculative. When or if something like that ever becomes real, I promise I’ll tell you guys. :)”
Personally, I would love to see Clayface done on the big screen, ging up against Batman or as a standalone tragic horror icon… either way, it could be a movie worth waiting for.
The Batman 2 set for October 3rd, 2025
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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