DC Studios has locked in Speak No Evil director James Watkins to helm its upcoming Clayface film, as per a report on The Hollywood Reporter. The project, based on the classic Batman villain, is set to be penned by horror veteran Mike Flanagan.
Clayface first appeared in Detective Comics #40 in 1940 as a vengeful actor who turned to crime. Over decades, the character evolved into a shape-shifting antagonist with tragic undertones, making him a fascinating figure across comics, animation, and live-action, including appearances in Gotham and Pennyworth. Production is slated to begin later this year as part of DC’s strategy to explore a diverse range of storytelling, from large-scale superhero blockbusters like Superman to more intimate, character-driven films.
Matt Reeves, the director behind The Batman, is producing the film alongside Lynn Harris, as well as DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Clayface is scheduled for release on September 11, 2026.
Casting has yet to be announced, but Gunn and Safran have previously stated that actors who voice characters in DC Studios' animated projects will also portray them in live-action. Alan Tudyk, who voices Clayface in Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos, is a possible contender. Other past interpretations of the character include Ron Perlman (Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures), Brian McManamon (Gotham), and Lorraine Burroughs (Pennyworth).
Watkins, best known for his work in psychological and supernatural horror, most recently directed Speak No Evil, a chilling thriller starring James McAvoy. The film, a remake of the critically acclaimed 2022 Danish horror-thriller, performed well both critically and financially.
The director first gained attention with his harrowing debut, Eden Lake, starring Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly as a couple terrorised by a group of violent teenagers, led by Jack O’Connell. He followed up with 2012’s The Woman in Black, a gothic horror film featuring Daniel Radcliffe. Watkins' other notable credits include the 2016 action-thriller The Take, starring Idris Elba, as well as work on the sci-fi horror anthology Black Mirror.
