DC Studios has locked in a director for its upcoming Clayface film.
After months of searching, Speak No Evil director James Watkins has been tapped to helm the project, which is based on the iconic Batman villain. The film will feature a script by horror expert Mike Flanagan.
According to sources, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn met with Watkins on Thursday for a final presentation before making the decision. With Watkins on board, negotiations for the deal are now underway.
A Horror Take on Clayface
First introduced in 1940, Clayface is known for his shapeshifting abilities. The upcoming film, reportedly budgeted at $40 million, will take a horror-driven approach, following a struggling B-movie actor who injects himself with a mysterious substance to stay relevant—only to discover he can physically transform, turning himself into a walking mass of clay. Production is expected to begin later this year.
The project aims to showcase DC’s diverse slate, ranging from large-scale superhero films (Superman) to smaller, character-driven stories.
Production and Casting
The Batman director Matt Reeves will produce alongside Lynn Harris, as well as Gunn and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran. The film is slated for release on September 11, 2026.
No casting has been announced yet, though Gunn and Safran have previously indicated that actors voicing DC characters in animation may also portray them in live-action. Alan Tudyk currently voices Clayface in Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos, while Ron Perlman previously lent his voice to the villain in Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. Other portrayals include Brian McManamon (Gotham) and Lorraine Burroughs (Pennyworth).
James Watkins’ Horror Background
Watkins is best known for Speak No Evil, his recent psychological horror film starring James McAvoy, a remake of the 2022 Danish thriller that was both a critical and commercial success. His other credits include the intense survival thriller Eden Lake (starring Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly) and the gothic ghost story The Woman in Black (starring Daniel Radcliffe).
Watkins also directed the 2016 thriller The Take (with Idris Elba) and worked on the sci-fi horror series Black Mirror. He is represented by WME.
Source: Thr