DC Studios Greenlights CLAYFACE Movie Written by Mike Flanagan

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As a gamer who’s spent countless hours navigating the dark alleys of Gotham, I can’t help but feel my heart race at the news of Mike Flanagan penning a Clayface movie for DC Studios. The man behind ‘Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘Doctor Sleep’ is no stranger to crafting chilling narratives that delve deep into the human psyche – making him an ideal candidate to breathe life into this shape-shifting villain.

Among all the reveals in James Gunn’s controversial initial DCU video, it was the prospect of a Swamp Thing adaptation on the big screen that most piqued my interest, not Lanterns, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, or even Superman. After all, the first chapter of the DCU is titled “Gods and Monsters.” However, before James Mangold has fully begun work on Swamp Thing, news breaks about another large, muddy monster being given the go-ahead. This monster is none other than Clayface, a shapeshifting villain from Batman’s rogue gallery. And who better to pen this project than Mike Flanagan!

Initially, we learned about this from Deadline. It was previously mentioned by Flanagan, a prolific horror creator, in 2021 that he was considering a solo Clayface film on Twitter. Now, he’s officially penning the script for DC Studios. Given his current involvement with the Exorcist reboot, it’s unlikely he’ll direct the Clayface movie. The project is reported to be a blend of horror, thriller, and tragedy, making it an ideal fit for a clay-based monster.

Back in June of 1940, I found myself introduced to Clayface for the first time in Detective Comics #40. The original Clayface was none other than Basil Karlo, a renowned horror actor much like Lon Chaney, who had an uncanny knack for altering his appearance with makeup and used this talent for nefarious purposes. Surprisingly, Karlo made only two appearances before another character stepped into the role of Clayface in the Silver Age – Matt Hagen, a treasure hunter who acquired his shapeshifting abilities after being exposed to “radioactive protoplasm.” Of all the characters who bore the name “Clayface,” Hagen is by far the most memorable. Over the next five decades, six more individuals claimed the title of Clayface in the comics.

The character’s fame extends beyond the comics, significantly boosted by the memorable portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series. Originally, this character was Matt Hagen, a well-known actor who intentionally subjected himself to harmful chemicals to mold his face into various characters. Unfortunately, this led to him transforming into a massive, pliable man. More recently, the Basil Karlo version has made appearances in Harley Quinn and Batman: Caped Crusader.

Regarding the potential film, it appears that the animated series storyline could provide a more straightforward path for a tragic narrative. It’s uncertain whether Batman will make an appearance in the movie, but personally, I find it unlikely that he won’t be included given the shared universe context. After all, why create a shared universe if not to include characters like Batman? This would mark the second upcoming project centered around Bat-villains. Earlier reports indicated that a live-action Bane and Deathstroke collaboration movie is also being developed.

Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob, where he also produces the weekly podcast Laser Focus, delving into various aspects of pop culture. His film and television critiques can be found in this space, while you can keep up with his updates on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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2024-12-12 21:32