Mike Flanagan, acclaimed as one of the foremost horror filmmakers of our time, has achieved immense success by reimagining classic novels within the genre. The visionary director has expressed his eagerness to venture into the realm of superhero cinema, making his debut with the highly anticipated 2026 film, "Clayface." This superhero flick is an integral part of James Gunn's upcoming DCU slate, which kicks off this summer with a fresh take on "Superman." Scheduled to premiere alongside "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," "Clayface" is poised to be one of the two DCU films gracing the silver screen in 2026.
Ahead of its grand unveiling next year, intriguing details about "Clayface" emerged in The Hollywood Reporter's newsletter, shedding light on its intriguing plot. Due to scheduling conflicts with the "Carrie" TV series reboot, "The Exorcist," and the upcoming "The Dark Tower" series, Mike Flanagan will solely contribute to the screenplay. Rumors have been swirling about potential directors vying for the helm, with Jeff Wadlow of "Truth or Dare" fame and James Watkins of "Speak no Evil" being mentioned. However, according to the newsletter, Wadlow is not in contention to direct the superhero film, stating, "Never was and never will be." Watkins, on the other hand, has yet to meet with DC's top brass but is expected to do so soon.
The newsletter also revealed that "Clayface" will deviate from the filming locations of "Superman" and "Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow," both produced in England. Instead, the film isn't currently targeted for production there, though plans could shift if a British director is hired. With a modest budget of $40 million, relatively low for a superhero production, DC Studios is exploring locations such as Vancouver, Toronto, New Jersey, or Atlanta.
The newsletter further unveiled the film's captivating plot: "Clayface" is a chilling Hollywood narrative centered around the most renowned incarnation of the villain – a B-movie actor who injects himself with a mysterious substance to retain his relevance, only to discover he can morph his face and form, transforming into a sentient blob of clay. Given its Hollywood-centric storyline, Los Angeles emerges as the ideal setting for the film's production. At present, no cast members have been attached to the project.
Warner Bros. and DC Studios have mapped out the initial phase of the upcoming DCU, titled Chapter One: Gods and Monsters. Alongside fresh interpretations of iconic superheroes like Superman and Batman, sans origin stories, other characters are poised to make their DCU debut, including Supergirl, a new iteration of Green Lantern in "Lanterns," and Clayface. James Gunn, co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran and a renowned writer-director in his own right, admitted in an interview with io9 last December that "Clayface" wasn't originally on his radar. "I didn’t plan on making a 'Clayface' movie," Gunn confessed. "Mike came in with this incredible pitch. I thought, 'Damn, I can’t believe you’ve convinced me to make a 'Clayface' movie.'" He continued, "He wrote the script, and it just kept getting better with each draft. By the time we reached the second draft, I was sold. So, we found a spot for it in the lineup because if there's quality material, we'll find a way to incorporate it."
Mark your calendars for "Clayface," set to hit theaters on September 11, 2026.
