Mike Flanagan says his proposed Clayface movie isn’t happening at DC/Warners

You may recall that, after the amazing Joker movie came out (two years ago!), there was a lot of rumours that DC was set to develop a darker, more horror-laced DC universe featuring popular DC villains.

Rumours abound that we could see villains like Scarecrow, Manbat etc get their moment in the horror-spotlight.

Now, whether this will ever happen remains to be seen, but we now know that Haunting of Bly Manor and Doctor Sleep’s Mike Flanagan had approached DC/Warners about developing a Clayface movie (although he admitted he always wanted to make a Superman movie).

Taking to Twitter in January, he wrote: “Well I’ve wanted to do a Superman movie since I was a kid, but I would also be really keen to do a standalone Clayface movie as a horror/thriller/tragedy.”

The movie presumably would have centered on Basil Karlo, an aging horror actor who was horribly injured and became the villainous Clayface. However, the character had several incarnations and the most recognised was Matt Hagan, another actor who, thanks to chemicals, could manipulate his appearance to that of anyone he chose. I find it more likely it would have been Hagan’s Clayface that would have been the focus of the movie, though now it seems that we may never know.

While it was never confirmed that there was ever even a discussion, Flanagan himself seems to have confirmed that there was indeed a chat and, ultimately, Warners said… no.

Asked on Twitter about the project and if it was still happening, Flanagan replied: “They didn’t bite on that one, though I’m ready to go anytime.”

This would definitely seem to imply that there was the possibility of a Clayface movie from the man who takes great joy in terrifying people.

Man, I think a standalone horror DC universe could be the stuff of dreams or, well, nightmares.

Anyways, that’s my thoughts on the matter, what about you all? Let me know if you would have liked a terrifying Clayface movie or not in all the usual ways.