Spider-Man isn't the only one who'll be getting a brand new day soon enough. A new chapter in The DC Universe is about to begin, and it will all kick off with the release of James Gunn's Superman. From that point onwards, there will be no shortage of iconic adventures featuring some of the world's most recognizable superheroes. The Man of Steel, Batman, Wonder Woman, two versions of Green Lantern, and many more will have stand-alone projects soon enough.
However, we all know a good protagonist is nothing without an equally amazing opposing force, and wouldn't you know it, but one of DC's greatest strengths is creating memorable antagonists. That's why we'll also see the release of entire films centered around supervillains, and there's no better way to kick things off than with Clayface. The third movie of the new and improved DCU will follow The Penguin's incredibly successful footsteps by not holding back on the violence, going as far as securing an R-rating.
For a long time, fans wondered who'd be the actor to portray the shape-shifting Batman supervillain, and we finally have an answer.
Tom Rhys Harries is the DCU's new Clayface
Tom Rhys Harries is officially the actor behind Gotham's most terrifying actor. After appearing in projects such as Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen and Apple TV+'s Suspicion, Tom will make his DCU debut as Clayface in the villain's stand-alone film. He's set to join forces with director James Watkins, who's known for his work on Speak No Evil and My Little Eye, along with writer Mike Flanagan, who wrote and directed Doctor Sleep.
After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries. Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy, and can't wait for you to see this film, directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan. https://t.co/EkYFYUvmdA
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 17, 2025
DC Studios' co-chairmans and co-CEOs had previously unveiled that the Clayface movie won't hold back in the slightest, with James Gunn stating that it will be "pure f***ing horror (...) and gross", and Peter Safran adding that the project's story is "equally resonant, compelling, and in many ways, more terrifying than [The Penguin or The Joker]". As if it wasn't evident by the R-rating, it seems audiences will be in for a shocking, violent, and terrifying ride. Unfortunately, there's not much that we know about the movie story-wise, but that can't stop us from speculating.
An interesting aspect of this new iteration of the DCU is that all the stories will be interconnected, regardless of the medium in which they are told. That means live-action films, animated TV series, and video games will all take place in the same universe, sharing one overarching story. And wouldn't you know it, but a version of Clayface has already appeared during HBO Max's Creature Commandos.
While never explicitly confirmed, fans have theorized that Matt Hagen was behind the animated iteration of the supervillain. However, he seemed as good as dead once credits rolled on the Creature Commandos' finale. Granted, there's a chance it only seemed like he was gone for good, only for the upcoming Clayface movie to be all about his comeback. However, it seems like the most likely scenario is that we'll get to see Basil Karlo's origin story soon enough, where he'll be able to quite literally steal the spotlight.
On the bright side, it won't be long before we get to learn more about this anticipated project. Production is expected to begin this fall, which means more casting announcements are bound to happen soon. With a bit of luck, Clayface will further cement the amazing villain roster that Batman has, and it will kick-start projects with other antagonists rather than the ones we're used to (looking at you, Joker).
Clayface will be released on Sep. 11, 2026.