DC Studios’ Clayface Casting Officially Confirms Lead Actor
After months of speculation and growing fan buzz, DC Studios‘ Clayface casting is finally official. As a result, rising actor Tom Rhys Harries has secured the lead role. In doing so, he beat out a reported shortlist that included Jack O’Connell, Tom Blyth, Leo Woodall, and George MacKay.
In an official update, DC Studios co-head James Gunn confirmed the casting. Meanwhile, The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez further revealed that Harries will portray a classic version of the shapeshifting villain.
Which Clayface Is He Playing?
Harries will be portraying Matt Hagen, the second character to take up the Clayface identity in DC Comics. Hagen began as an adventurer, but he became a grotesque, shapeshifting creature after he fell into a radioactive pool of protoplasm. His version of Clayface became a fan favorite thanks to his tragic arc and unique powers.
Batman: The Animated Series notably adapted this character, reimagining Hagen as a disfigured actor who was betrayed by a pharmaceutical company. The version blended emotional depth with horror, and it appears the upcoming film will follow a similar path.
A Dark and Horrifying Vision for the DCU
Unlike most DC adaptations, Clayface will dive into the psychological horror genre. According to reports:
- Writers: Mike Flanagan, creator of The Haunting of Hill House, wrote the original draft, and Hossein Amini, screenwriter of Drive, later revised it.
- Director: James Watkins, known for The Woman in Black, will direct the film.
- Producers: James Gunn, Peter Safran, and The Batman director Matt Reeves are producing.
- Genre: Described as a body horror thriller with an R-rating.
James Gunn on the Clayface Script
Speaking about the film’s tone and direction, James Gunn shared:
“One of the things Peter and I talked about when we first got the script is—if we were producing movies five years ago, like when we were doing Belko Experiment and all of that stuff—and somebody had brought us this horror script called Clayface about this guy, we would have died to have produced this movie.”…“Because it was just a really excellent body horror script. And the fact that it’s in the DCU is just a plus.”
Gunn has already confirmed that the upcoming Clayface movie will carry an R rating. Moreover, the film will lean heavily into horror, delivering a dark and disturbing take on the iconic DC villain.
“Then we have Clayface: pure [f**king] horror. Like totally real. Their version of that movie, it is so real and true and psychological and body horror and gross. It’s definitely R-rated.”
Taken together, these remarks clearly emphasize how DC Studios’ Clayface casting is not just a standalone decision but rather part of a broader creative shift toward genre-driven storytelling in the DCU.
When Will Clayface Be Released?
DC Studios will release the film in theaters on September 11, 2026, as part of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.
Thanks to its distinct tone and strong character focus, the film stands out in the rebooted universe. Moreover, it may help redefine how comic book films portray villains.
DC Studios’ Clayface casting isn’t just about a new film — it also shows the studio’s shift toward bold, genre-blending stories. With a strong lead and a horror-driven team, the movie could be a major step forward for the DCU. Furthermore, its darker tone signals a new creative direction.
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