First Look at CLAYFACE Reveals Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen
DC Studios shared the first image from it’s upcming film Clayface, and it features Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, smiling confidently on the cover of a magazine labeled “Rising star Matt Hagen.”
It’s clean, polished, and almost too normal. If you know anything about Clayface, that calm surface comes with a ticking clock. This version of Hagen is headed straight for a nightmare.
That context completely changes how you look at the photo. What seems like a simple celebrity snapshot turns into something ominous. We already know what’s coming for him.
Footage shown at CinemaCon leaned hard into that transformation. Hagen is seen lying in a hospital bed, his face wrapped in bandages after it had been savagely slashed up. Then things get worse. At one point, he literally wipes his entire face away.
That moment sets the tone for what DC Studios is building here. This movie is leaning fully into body horror, and from what was shown, it doesn’t hold back. The footage I saw is brutal, violent, and grotesque.
Max Minghella teased just how far the film is willing to push things, saying: "I think I can say safely it's going there. It's a proper movie. It's a really fantastic script."
That’s a strong vote of confidence, and it lines up with the tone DC Studios seems to be aiming for with this project. If they stick the landing, Clayface could end up being one of the most unique entries in the comic book genre.
Meanwhile, over in another corner of the DC universe, James Gunn is teasing what’s next. He shared a cryptic first look at Man of Tomorrow, a follow-up to Superman that’s already raising questions.
The image hints at a chess match, possibly involving Lex Luthor and Superman, which is interesting considering the two are expected to team up this time around. Even more intriguing is the logo, blending Superman’s iconic symbol with that of Brainiac.
DC Studios seems to be carving out a bold direction with these projects, and if Clayface delivers on its horror-driven promise, it could set a new tone for what these characters can be on screen.
Clayface hits theaters on October 23, while Man of Tomorrow is set to arrive on July 9.