Mike Flanagan Pitched His CLAYFACE Movie Idea To James Gunn and Peter Safran
Mike Flanagan, the director behind Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass has been talking about a Clayface movie idea that he’s had for a long time. This is a passion project for the filmmaker and he recently had another opportunity to pitch it to Warner Bros. and DC Studios.
This time, Flanagan and his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy made his pitch to James Gunn and Peter Safran. While the project has not been given the green light, the studio has not said no. So, there’s actually a chance that this could happen, which would be awesome!
If the movie does happen, it will be separate from the Matt Reeves Batman universe. But, inside sources are saying that Clayface is “a big addition to Matt Reeves’ The Batman 2,” but the script is constantly changing, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens there when the dust settles.
Flanagan previously shared that he would be “really keen to do a standalone Clayface movie as a horror/thriller/tragedy.” He later shared that he actually pitched that movie to Warner Bros., saying: "They didn't bite on that one. Though I'm ready to go anytime."
When talking about his previous attempt to pitch the movie, he said: “I went in and said, ‘You know, if you want to do some horror-leaning DC stuff, boy do I have a great take on Clayface. I’d love to do that movie.'”
In the comics, Clayface’s real name is Basil Karlo, “an actor who upon discovering that a remake of one of his classic horror movies was being made went insane and began killing the cast and crew, wearing the mask of the film's villain Clayface, until stopped by Batman. Initially having no superpowers, Karlo joined with a group of other ‘Clayfaces’ and stole their combined powers, allowing him to shapeshift into any forms he wants.”
In Batman: The Animated Series, Clayface went by the name of Matt Hagen, “an actor working for Imperial Pictures, once called ‘The Man of a million faces’, but he had been disfigured in a terrible car accident. While recovering in a burn clinic, he was approached by the corrupt industrialist Roland Daggett, who made him a test subject for a compound called ‘Renuyu’ that he promised would immediately restore his young good looks. In payment, Hagen impersonated people in an illegal manner for Daggett. Hagen greatly resented this, but was forced to comply, as the Renuyu chemical was extremely addictive and Daggett was the sole producer.”
I would love to see Flanagan get to make his Clayface movie. I’m very curious about what he will do with the character. He’s such a great storyteller and I think he would do some awesome things with Clayface.
Source: Deadline