The Clayface TV Spot offers a disturbing new look at Matt Hagen’s transformation into the DCU’s iconic Batman villain. Warner Bros. and DC Studios are ramping up the marketing campaign ahead of the film’s October 23, 2026 release.
The latest footage shows Hagen struggling with his changing body while teasing the terrifying final form he could eventually become.
Clayface TV Spot Shows Hagen’s Body Changing
The new Clayface TV Spot features several disturbing moments from the upcoming DCU horror film. One particularly unsettling scene takes place at what appears to be a nightclub. Hagen’s eye suddenly begins to pop out as his body undergoes another disturbing change.
The teaser also highlights one of Hagen’s abilities. He can apparently “change his face,” giving him control over his appearance. The footage then cuts to Hagen asking:
“Is that so bad?”
The question suggests that Hagen may initially view his strange abilities as useful rather than horrifying. However, the footage also hints that his transformation will eventually become much more extreme.
Watch the New Clayface TV Spot
Matt Hagen’s Transformation Gets More Horrifying
Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, an actor on the verge of a major Hollywood breakthrough. His ambitions collapse after a gangster severely damages his face. Hagen then turns to fringe scientist Dr. Caitlin Corr, played by Naomi Ackie.
Corr performs an experimental procedure on him. The process ultimately transforms Hagen into Clayface. The Clayface TV Spot provides another glimpse at that transformation without revealing the character’s complete final appearance. Instead, the marketing continues to show Hagen’s body changing in increasingly disturbing ways.
DC Studios Is Hiding Clayface’s Final Form
The Clayface TV Spot continues a marketing strategy that keeps Hagen’s complete transformation largely hidden. Previous posters have focused on the contrast between Hagen’s human appearance and his monstrous form. The trailers have also teased a huge silhouette of the fully transformed villain.
Now, the new footage shows smaller stages of Hagen’s physical transformation. That approach could make the final reveal even more significant when audiences see the completed version of Clayface in theaters.
Clayface Brings Body Horror to the DCU
The movie represents a major tonal shift for the DCU. Clayface will be the franchise’s first R-rated theatrical release. It will also introduce a stronger body-horror element to the interconnected universe. The MPA has described the film as containing “strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity, and brief drug use.”
James Watkins directs the movie from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Flanagan developed the original pitch for the story. The combination of superhero mythology and body horror gives the movie a different identity from the DCU’s previous theatrical releases.
Who Stars in Clayface?
Tom Rhys Harries leads the cast as Matt Hagen. The cast also includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, Joshua James, David Dencik, Francesca Corney, Ruby Sear, and Wil Coban.
Ackie plays Dr. Caitlin Corr, whose experimental procedure plays a major role in Hagen’s transformation. The story follows Hagen as his Hollywood ambitions fall apart and his search for a solution leads him toward an increasingly horrifying fate.
Clayface Expands the DCU’s Gotham City
The Clayface TV Spot also arrives as the movie prepares to introduce Gotham City to the DCU in a major way. The film is the third theatrical release in the DCU, following Superman and Supergirl. It is also the sixth overall DCU title when television projects such as Creature Commandos, Peacemaker Season 2, and Lanterns are included.
The movie will provide the franchise’s first major live-action look at Gotham City. That could make it an important step toward the planned Batman movie The Brave and the Bold. The film’s Clayface has also been confirmed as the same character seen in Creature Commandos. The movie will therefore serve as his origin story before the events of the animated series.
When Does Clayface Release?
Clayface arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026. The movie was originally scheduled for September 11, 2026. Warner Bros. later moved it to October and swapped release dates with Practical Magic 2. The new release date places the film just before Halloween, making the horror-focused project a natural fit for the season.
With the Clayface TV Spot revealing more of Matt Hagen’s disturbing transformation, DC Studios continues to hold back his complete final form. The biggest question now is how much of the fully transformed Clayface will be revealed before the movie reaches theaters.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on DCU’s upcoming projects, and subscribe to DC Updates’ YouTube channel.
Ambily S