Unless you saw the behind-the-scenes images of the sets, locations, and Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, most of us haven’t gotten a look at DC Studios’s Clayface. This week, however, glimpses of the upcoming DC Universe standalone horror film exploring the origin of one of Batman’s most bizarre foes were exhibited for an audience, and for the first time as far as anyone knows, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Deadline reports that DC Studios executive Peter Safran, James Gunn’s counterpart at the office, personally presented a teaser for a small group that showed Harries as Hagen in different phases of the transformation that ultimately renders him a walking, distorted pile of mud.
According to the report, the teaser begins with Harries bloodied, red-eyed, and covered in bandages -- an image that parallels the animated version of Hagen in Batman: The Animated Series when he is visited in the hospital by corrupt industrialist Roland Daggett. It adds that he is seen elsewhere molding his face, in a mask, and even “molting” at one point.
The Hollywood Reporter describes the footage as "chilling", while other sources (such as One Take over on X, formerly Twitter) say that there are sequences where Harries shapeshifts his face by hand, as well as morphing his hands into weapons. One of the latter on display in shadow is allegedly Clayface’s signature spiked mace. The animated series connection is also emphasized along with flashbacks to better days during the character’s acting career.
Animated origins
The incarnation the film goes with is an adaptation of the noteworthy and long-running DC Animated Universe (DCAU) version, which itself is an amalgam of the character’s Golden Age roots with a campier revamp that came decades later. The first Clayface (or Clayface One) was a jilted, crazed stage actor Basil Karlo, who put on a mask and began bumping off his castmates one by one, Phantom of the Opera style. He recently returned to the spotlight in Prime Video animated series Batman: Caped Crusader.
Matt Hagen was the name of a guy who discovered a pool in a cave that made him malleable and flexible once he waded in it. Naturally, he turned to crime and ran afoul of ‘60s-Adam West-era Batman and Robin. His name and powers were grafted onto the version reimagined by Batman: The Animated Series' Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, and Paul Dini. This portrayal of the character - widely regarded as the most recognizable of the Clayface versions seen on our TV screens - was voiced by Ron Perlman and made a number of appearances in the critically-acclaimed show throughout its run.
The disturbing teaser hasn’t wound up online yet, but Clayface is expected to release in October just in time for Halloween. Starring Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17), and Max Minghella (Spiral: From the Book of Saw), the film is directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil). It was written by Hossein Amini from a script by modern horror maestro Mike Flanagan.
At the presentation, Safran boldly proclaimed that Clayface isn't famous yet, but will be after people see this movie.
Clayface arrives in movie theaters on October 23, 2026.
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