CLAYFACE Star Tom Rhys Harries Says His DCU Villain Is So Powerful He Could Easily Take Down Batman

Batman might want to start working on a backup plan because Tom Rhys Harries is convinced his version of Clayface could absolutely destroy the Dark Knight in a fight.

The actor is set to bring one of Gotham City's most dangerous villains to life in DC Studios' upcoming Clayface movie, and he believes the character's shapeshifting abilities give him a serious advantage over Batman.

Speaking with SFX magazine, Harries made it clear that he likes his chances against Gotham's greatest crimefighter.

"Yeah I could take Batman out," he said. "Clayface is so overpowered comparative to Batman. I can become anyone. I can become anything. Once Matt gains control over his powers then you're in a space where you're like, 'What do you want to use these for'."

Batman might have the gadgets, fighting skills, and brilliant detective mind, but going up against a monster that can transform into practically anything presents a whole different kind of problem.

The upcoming DCU horror film tells the origin story of Matt Hagen, a struggling actor whose life takes a horrifying turn after he's disfigured. Desperate to reclaim his appearance and career, Hagen undergoes an extreme treatment that transforms him into a monstrous creature made of clay.

His new abilities allow him to change his appearance at will, opening the door to some terrifying possibilities, especially once he figures out how to control them.

Of course, Batman has dealt with Clayface plenty of times in DC Comics, but it'll be interesting to see how this new version of the villain fits into the larger DC Universe being developed by James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Director James Watkins has also discussed how Batman's presence will be felt throughout the film, even if the Caped Crusader doesn't physically appear.

"You're in a city called Gotham," Watkins told SFX. "So I guess you feel the shadow of the Bat inherently. Because of the nature of where you are."

That connection to Batman is part of what makes Clayface such an interesting addition to the DCU. While we've heard about Gotham and its famous protector in other projects, this movie will give audiences their first proper live-action look at the city in Gunn's new universe.

Batman previously appeared in animated form in Creature Commandos, while Lanterns has continued building connections to Gotham. One of the show's main characters, Kerry, comes from the city, and Hal Jordan even referenced Batman during a conversation with Guy Gardner.

Despite those connections, the DCU's Batman still hasn't made his live-action debut, and we don't know who will eventually play the character.

For now, Clayface will give fans a chance to explore Gotham from a much different perspective, following the transformation of a desperate man into one of Batman's most formidable enemies.

There's also something pretty cool about introducing this villain before the hero he's traditionally associated with. By the time Batman finally shows up, audiences will have a good idea of just how dangerous Clayface can be.

As for Harries' claim that he could take down Batman, I'd love to see the two face off with each other at some point! Clayface certainly has the raw power and abilities to make things ugly for the Dark Knight, but Batman has built an entire career out of defeating enemies who should be able to crush him.

Just a reminder, in Batman: The Animated Series, Batman defeats Clayface in the Season 1 episode "Feat of Clay: Part II" by using the villain's shapeshifting abilities against him.

During their final confrontation, Batman uses a television monitor to bombard Clayface with images of different people, forcing him to rapidly transform into each one.

Clayface loses control as his body struggles to keep up with the constant transformations. Eventually, the strain overwhelms him, and he collapses into a seemingly lifeless pile of clay.

Batman initially believes Clayface has died, but it's later revealed that he survived and faked his death to escape.

What makes this defeat so cool is that Batman doesn't overpower Clayface physically. He figures out how to exploit the villain's abilities and uses his intelligence to win the fight.

It's a perfect example of why Batman can defeat enemies who are physically far more powerful than he is.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23.