Why CLAYFACE Was Made Without Mike Flanagan at the Helm
Mike Flanagan’s vision for Clayface has been a passion project for him years in the making, but when DC Studios officially gave the movie the green light, they did so without Flanagan behind the camera.
Now, the filmmaker is opening up about why he had to walk away and what he hopes the movie can still become within James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe.
Before Clayface became an official part of DC Studios’ Chapter 1: Gods and Monsters slate, it started with Flanagan, the director behind Midnight Mass, The Life of Chuck, and the upcoming Carrie reboot.
Flanagan was inspired by Batman: The Animated Series, specifically the two-part episode “Feat of Clay,” featuring Ron Perlman as the voice of the tragic villain.
“No, when we first started talking about Clayface, I hadn’t seen what Matt [Reeves] was up to. So it went all the way back to ‘Feat of Clay’, that incredible two-parter with Ron Perlman voicing the character, which was so formative for me as a kid,” Flanagan told Screen Rant.
He went on to reveal that he had developed the project with Reeves as well as with James Gunn and Peter Safran, indicating that at one point, Clayface may have been intended for the Batverse.
“Clayface, I had so much fun developing that with Matt, and then with James and Peter,” Flanagan said.
“It was one of the great kind of sadnesses of my career that I’m so sorry that when it came time to make it, and they wanted to make this movie right away, I wasn’t available.”
Flanagan’s commitment to other projects, including his take on Carrie, ultimately forced him to step back just as DC Studios was ready to fast-track the movie.
Despite being the writer of the film’s first draft, the scheduling clash meant someone else would have to take over directing duties.
“They just wrapped, I’m dying to see it. I can’t wait to see what they did with it,” he said, expressing genuine excitement for the project’s future, even though he’s no longer involved.
“But for me, it all goes back to the animated series. Batman: The Animated Series is art.”
With Flanagan out, Clayface is moving forward with writer Hossein Amini (Drive, Snow White and the Huntsman) and director James Watkins (The Woman in Black). The film recently wrapped production and is set to hit theaters on September 11, 2026.
The cast includes newcomer Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role, joined by Eddie Marsan, Max Minghella, and Naomi Ackie, all in undisclosed roles.
This version of Clayface is officially part of the mainline DCU, introducing a new version of Gotham City. And while Swamp Thing seems to be on hold, Clayface looks like it will represent the “Monsters” part of Gunn’s Gods and Monsters strategy for the DCU.
While Flanagan didn’t hide his disappointment in not directing the film, he expressed support for DC Studios’ vision under Gunn and Safran.
He shared optimism about what their universe might become, saying the new DCU could “harmonize all of these elements into the DC Universe,” and even speculated on the possibility of bringing Robert Pattinson’s Batman into the fold alongside Superman and Clayface.
That said, he also made it clear he doesn’t know what the official plan is, adding, “I have no idea what the plan is for any of that.”
While it’s definitely a missed opportunity for Flanagan fans hoping to see his darker, psychological style applied to Clayface, the movie is still carrying the essence of his original story.
With a solid creative team taking over and a 2026 release date locked in, there’s a lot to be excited about, especially for fans looking forward to seeing darker horror elements woven into the DCU.
This movie will be a unique addition to a universe that’s rapidly expanding in bold new directions.