DC Studios drops the final trailer for Clayface, a body horror thriller from director James Watkins. Watch the new footage and check release dates!
DC Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures have unveiled the chilling final trailer for Clayface, an upcoming R-rated body-horror thriller directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil, The Woman in Black). Starring Tom Rhys Harries as disfigured actor Matt Hagen, the film trades traditional superhero spectacle for grotesque physical transformation and psychological obsession. Scripted by horror icon Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and Hossein Amini (Drive), the $40 million standalone DC Universe entry hits theaters on October 23, 2026.
Key Information
- Film Title: Clayface
- Director: James Watkins (Speak No Evil, Eden Lake, The Woman in Black)
- Screenwriters: Mike Flanagan, Hossein Amini
- Lead Cast: Tom Rhys Harries (Matt Hagen / Clayface), Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, Eddie Marsan
- Producers: Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn, Peter Safran
- Production Banners: DC Studios, 6th & Idaho, The Safran Company
- Domestic Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
- Production Budget: Estimated $40 million
- MPA Rating: R (Rated for strong bloody violence, gore, language, and disturbing imagery)
- Release Date: October 23, 2026
- Genre: Body Horror, Psychological Thriller, Crime Drama
What Is the Plot of DC's Clayface Movie?
Moving away from grand world-ending threats, Clayface presents a grounded Hollywood tragedy centered on vanity, identity, and tragic obsession:
- The Tragic Origin: Rising Gotham street-kid-turned-Hollywood-star Matt Hagen suffers a brutal assault by mobsters that leaves his face completely destroyed.
- The Experimental Substance: Desperate to salvage his acting career and public image, Hagen turns to an unauthorized experimental face cream developed by a fringe scientist.
- The Monstrous Mutation: The substance allows him to temporarily reshape his facial features, but the side effects quickly mutate his cellular structure into living clay, unraveling his sanity as he seeks violent revenge.
Drawing narrative inspiration from the classic Batman: The Animated Series episode "Feat of Clay," the film emphasizes the heartbreaking loss of humanity as Hagen loses control over his own flesh.
Who Is Director James Watkins and the Creative Team Behind Clayface?
Although horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan originally conceived the project and co-wrote the screenplay, scheduling conflicts led him to hand directorial duties over to British filmmaker James Watkins.
Watkins brings extensive thriller credentials to the project, having previously directed:
- Eden Lake (2008): The brutal survival thriller starring Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender.
- The Woman in Black (2012): The atmospheric Gothic ghost story starring Daniel Radcliffe.
- Black Mirror: The universally acclaimed, tension-filled episode "Shut Up and Dance."
- Speak No Evil (2024): The psychological thriller starring James McAvoy.
Producers James Gunn, Peter Safran, and Matt Reeves (The Batman) greenlit the mid-budget project to diversify DC Studios' slate, positioning the film as a dark character study similar to David Cronenberg's The Fly.
When Is the Release Date and What Are the Box Office Expectations for Clayface?
Warner Bros. has scheduled Clayface for an exclusive theatrical release on October 23, 2026, perfectly timed for the Halloween moviegoing season. Early tracking projects a domestic opening weekend in the low-to-mid $20 million range. Given the modest $40 million production cost, strong critical reviews and positive word-of-mouth among horror fans could make the film a major financial success for DC Studios.