James Gunn Reveals CLAYFACE Is Set Before SUPERMAN and Is "Very Connected" to the DCU

It turns out that the upcoming Clayface movie isn’t just another DC side quest story, James Gunn has confirmed that it takes place before Superman, making it a surprisingly important entry in the DCU timeline.

Gunn revealed the update in response to a fan question, asking if the movie takes place before or after Superman, and Gun responded, saying: "Before. It's the first DCU film out of chronological order."

In another post, he clarified how it fits into the bigger picture saying it’s "very connected" to the wider DCU story, but that "the standalone story is what's most important."

So, this isn’t just a psychological body-horror detour. It’s a foundational chapter that just happens to look completely different from what fans might expect.

The film centers on Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries, an actor who undergoes a brutal transformation after a violent attack, leaving him with the ability to morph into anyone.

Gunn has already made it clear this isn’t a superhero movie with scary elements sprinkled in. It’s a legit horror film set inside the DCU.

That direction makes even more sense knowing the script comes from Mike Flanagan, the filmmaker behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. If you’ve seen those, you know he doesn’t pull punches when it comes to great unsettling storytelling.

The first trailer already teased a grim, Gotham-heavy atmosphere. Naturally, fans are already speculating about whether Batman has a presence lurking in the background. Nothing is confirmed, but I seriously doubt he’ll show up in this movie.

Clayface now sits before Superman in the DCU timeline, while Supergirl lands after both. That puts this twisted origin story in a prime position to quietly set up elements that ripple across the rest of the universe.

Supergirl is set to arrive this June and will even feature a cameo from David Corenswet as Superman. On the TV side, Lanterns, starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler, is slated to hit HBO Max in August.

Right now, Clayface feels like the wildcard. It’s gritty, it’s strange, and it doesn’t follow the typical comic book movie formula, which I like. Now, with Gunn confirming its place in the timeline and its connection to the larger story, it might end up being one of the more important pieces of the DCU’s foundation.