Warner Bros. and DC have found a director forClayface, and it’s a filmmaker with plenty of horror experience. The news thatJames Gunn’s DCU was developing a movie based on the Batman villain certainly shocked many, though Mike Flanagan had been kicking around the idea for years. While Flanagan penned the script forClayface, he is unable to direct the projectdue to his commitments to the upcomingExorcistsequel. WithClayfacebeing described as a horror movie set in the DCU, genre fans were eager to find out which director would get to take a crack at the project.
Director James Watkins has signed on to directClayfacefor DC Studios, according toThe Hollywood Reporter. Watkins recently directed the 2024 hit horror filmSpeak No Evil, and his previous credits include the horror filmsEden LakeandThe Woman in Black. Watkins had emerged as a front-runner for the director position alongsideFantasy Island’s Jeff Wadlow, but it was later reported that Wadlow was never actually considered.THR’s sourcessay that DC co-chief James Gunn met with Watkins on Thursday for a final presentation that ended up landing him the job.
Clayfaceis currently slated for release on Jun 17, 2025, and will reportedly go into production later this year. Sources say the film is budgeted at $40 million and is meant to showcase the breadth of DC material, from big-screen blockbusters likeSupermanto the planned WWII-eraSgt. Rockand, now, the mid-budget body horrorClayface. The movie’s plot looks to follow the Basil Karlo version of the character as a B-list Hollywood actor who injects himself with a mysterious substance to remain relevant, only to discover he becomes a walking piece of clay who can reshape his entire body.
Who Will Put the “Face” in Clayface?
With Watkins now set to direct, the search is on to find the actor who will play Clayface. Some rumors suggest James McAvoy is in consideration for the role, and given that Watkins previously worked with the actor onSpeak No Evil, that seems more likely than it might have been a week ago.
Another potential favorite to play Clayface could be Henry Thomas.Best known for playing Elliot inE.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Thomas has recently formed a strong working relationship with Mike Flanagan, having appeared in many of the director’s projects, including the filmsOuija: Origin of Evil,Gerald’s Game,andDoctor Sleep, in which he took on the role of Jack Torrance, previously played by Jack Nicholson inThe Shining. Even with Flanagan not directing, it is entirely possible he could have written the part with frequent collaborators in mind.
Daniel Craig Set To Be Replaced by ‘The Bear’ Star in DC’s Upcoming War Movie After Unexpected Exit
Daniel Craig is no longer set to star in the Luca Guadagnino DC Studios film ‘Sgt. Rock,’ which is aiming to start filming in the summer of 2025.
Watkins' hiring forClayfacecontinues a fascinating collection of filmmakers that James Gunn and Peter Safran have assembled for the DCU. Aside from Gunn directingSuperman,I, Tonya’s Craig Gillespie is helmingSupergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, andChallengersauteur Luca Guadagnino is attached toSgt. Rock. These filmmakers will define the DCU in distinct ways and could also reshape the way audiences think of superhero films.Clayfacein particular is a unique pick for one of the first films in the DCU slate, but it is such an unexpected choice that one can’t help but be a little excited just out of curiosity.
