James Gunn’s Conflicting Clayface Comments Raise Questions About His DCU Plans
James Gunn has fans wondering what exactly he has planned for Clayface after making two seemingly conflicting statements about the character's future in the DCU.
While the DC Studios co-CEO insists that individual stories don't need to build toward something bigger, he's also promising that we haven't seen the last of the Batman villain. So, which is it? Well, both can be true, but Gunn's comments have certainly created some confusion.
Clayface hit theaters last week and while the movie has received mostly mixed to positive reviews from critics, along with strong audience reactions, that enthusiasm hasn't translated into massive ticket sales. The R-rated DC horror movie opened with $43 million, slightly below expectations.
The movie follows Matt Hagen's transformation into the monstrous villain audiences previously encountered in Creature Commandos. It's an origin story that gives the character his own corner of the DCU, but it also leaves plenty of opportunities for him to return.
A sequel is certainly possible, though seeing Clayface face off against Batman in at some point feels like its inevitable, we just don’t know when it will happen. I imagine it will be a long time, though.
Gunn has already confirmed that Clayface has a future in the franchise. During the film's premiere, he enthusiastically told fans:
"I think one of the most fun things about creating the DCU is being able to tell stories that are very, very different from one another, in very different genres, and yet they all come together at certain points. And yeah, this isn’t the last we’ll see of Clayface. And I can’t wait for you guys to see what we do with him."
But Gunn seemed to be sending a different message on Threads Saturday when he agreed with a fan who argued that not every DC Studios project needs to exist as a stepping stone to another movie or series.
He explained: "[The] DCU is just an alternate universe; we can enter at any location or time and tell that story. I dislike the idea that individual stories aren’t meaningful unless they lead to something else."
He continued: "People not understanding this is strange to me, because 'Star Wars' has essentially been doing this for 50 years across movies, shows, games and books, admittedly without the tonal variety."
Sure, a movie should be able to stand on its own without requiring audiences to watch five other projects or stick around for a post-credits scene promising the next big crossover. But it's also understandable why fans might find his comments a little confusing.
At the premiere, Gunn was actively getting audiences excited about Clayface's return and how the character would eventually connect with the larger DCU. Days later, he's questioning why people expect individual stories to lead somewhere else.
The distinction is that a character can return without their original movie existing solely to introduce future plotlines. Clayface can tell a complete story about Matt Hagen while still allowing him to appear in other projects.
That's presumably what Gunn is trying to communicate, and it's a reasonable approach to building a shared universe. Still, DC fans have spent years watching superhero movies plant clues about future appearances, crossovers, and major events.
It's also worth wondering whether the movie's opening weekend has anything to do with Gunn's recent comments, or whether he was simply trying to generate some excitement at the premiere. Do they see the film as a disappointment?
The real question now is where Matt Hagen will appear next?