DC Studios has released the first trailer for Clayface, the body horror movie/origin story for the classic Batman villain, written by Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep) and Hossein Amini (Drive), directed by James Watkins (See No Evil), and starring Tom Rhys Harries (Doctor Who) as the titular actor Matt Hagen.
The eerie, minute-long teaser focuses on a single close-up of Hagen, lying in hospital after the attack that leads him to seek help from scientist Dr. Caitlin Bates (Naomi Ackie), in the hopes of saving his Hollywood career. Jarring cuts reveal the assault that resulted in his disfigurement; the experiments he undergoes to repair his face; the first signs he is losing control of his ability to maintain his shape; a woman screaming in terror; and a hooded Hagen apparently taking revenge on one of his attackers.
Bates is seen walking the streets of Gotham, looking carefully over her shoulder, and having a tender moment with Hagen. In contrast, we also Hagen developing a nosebleed as a result of his unraveling, and (in shadow) forming one of the character’s signature weapons to bludgeon someone in an alley. It concludes with a seemingly healed and content Hagen lying in a bathtub, only to accidentally wipe off his facial features.
The film’s cast also includes Max Minghella as a police detective dating Bates, and David Dencik (Chernobyl), Eddie Marsan (Hancock), Nancy Carroll (Father Brown), and Joshua James (Andor) in undisclosed roles. It was produced by Matt Reeves (director of the separate The Batman films), Lynn Harris, James Gunn, and Peter Safran.
Clayface will be released just in time for Halloween, in theaters and IMAX on October 23. It’s not the only horror movie in development at DC, with James Mangold in talks to helm a Swamp Thing reboot, but it’ll be the first in the new universe to emerge out of the gate. It’ll also mark the second appearance from this version of Clayface, who debuted on the first season of Creature Commandos (voiced by Alan Tudyk) on HBO Max in 2024.
In the meantime, check out a similarly gross teaser poster for the film below. A new comics series, Clayface: Celebrity Dirt, will also begin on July 8.
