DC Studios has released the first trailer for its upcoming horror-thriller 'Clayface', marking the DC Universe's debut in the scary movie genre. The film, adapted from the comic book story of Matt Hagen, follows a struggling actor who undergoes risky surgery after being mutilated in an attack, transforming into a shape-shifting mutant made of clay.
Fans have reacted with both horror and fascination to the teaser, which features daunting body horror, creepy music, and a nightmarish close-up of the titular character, played by Tom Rhys Harries, lying in a hospital bed with a bloody, bandaged face. One clip shows a shadow of the character transforming his arm into a giant spiked mace, while another reveals Hagen in a bathtub as his face melts.
Social media has been abuzz with praise. One fan wrote on X: 'Clayface looks absolutely incredible. A truly scary spin on one of Batman's coolest villains.' Another added: 'I already love this! It feels tonally different from other DCU projects, truly like a horror movie.' A YouTube comment noted: 'The opening shot of him staring straight at you with a single bloodshot eye is immediately unsettling.'
The film is directed by James Watkins, known for 'Speak No Evil' and 'The Woman in Black', and co-written by Mike Flanagan ('Doctor Sleep', 'The Haunting of Hill House') and Hossein Amini. The cast includes Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, and Eddie Marsan.
DC Studios co-chief James Gunn previously said there were no plans for a Clayface movie, but changed his mind after Flanagan and Amini delivered 'one of the best scripts that we’ve read', according to The Hollywood Reporter. Gunn produced the film alongside Peter Safran, Matt Reeves, and Lynn Harris.
