James Gunn Unpacks DCU’s Horror Shift With Clayface, Fans Wonder: Will Batman Make An Appearance?

James Gunn is putting in the work to bring DC back to its long-lost glory. After years of inconsistent storytelling and half-baked universe plans, Gunn’s leadership as co-head of DC Studios has already begun to shift the tide. With the recent release of Superman earning both critical acclaim and fan approval, the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just as audiences are getting comfortable, Gunn has thrown a curveball: his next major DCU project is not another superhero epic but a full-blown, R-rated horror movie. The film? Clayface.

Everything to know about DCU’s R-rated project, Clayface

The idea of giving Clayface, traditionally a Batman villain, his own solo film wasn’t in the original Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate. But that changed after horror maestro Mike Flanagan pitched a bold, genre-blending take on the character. Instead of simply being the shapeshifting antagonist we’ve seen in animated series and comics, this Clayface is a struggling B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to stay relevant in Hollywood, only to transform into something monstrous.

Originally, Clayface was rumored to appear in Matt Reeves’ The Batman sequel, scheduled to come on screen in 2027. Now, Clayface is a standalone R-rated horror film set within the DCU, with Speak No Evil director James Watkins at the helm and Tom Rhys Harries cast in the title role. As for Batman? His presence in the film remains uncertain officially. But netizens believe that the upcoming film might feature a new Batman. Sadly, Gunn has not made any comments regarding it, leaving fans in ambiguity. But the curiosity is real, especially since Clayface marks a major R-rated DCU entry.