In the past few months, Warner Bros. has accelerated the production of a movie featuring the Batman villain Clayface. Following reports about a search for a director, the studio has selected James Watkins, known for his work on Eden Lake and the 2024 remake of Speak No Evil.
As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Watkins impressed James Gunn with his presentation and will direct the film, which is scripted by renowned horror writer-director Mike Flanagan. The film is expected to have a $40 million budget and is likely to start filming later this year. The actor cast as Clayface, portrayed as a fading actor who gains shapeshifting abilities through a substance, will also play the character outside of live-action, adhering to Gunn’s directive for the entire DC movie lineup.
Clayface will be the first Batman villain, aside from more traditional chaotic antagonists, to lead a solo film. The character frequently appears beyond the comics; in animation, Clayface has been featured in Batman: The Animated Series, The Batman—as both Basil Karlo and original character Ethan Bennett—and Batman: Caped Crusader. Chad Kroeger of Nickelback also voiced Clayface in the Batwheels cartoon. The character has appeared in the Lego Batman games and was depicted in live-action series such as Gotham and Pennyworth, where a female version was introduced. Recently, Alan Tudyk provided the voice for Clayface in a brief appearance in Creature Commandos, as well as in Harley Quinn.
James Watkins’ Clayface is slated for release on September 11, 2026.