The Clayface movie might be from a script by Mike Flanagan, but due to scheduling conflicts, he won’t be able to direct it. So who has DC tapped to direct the film then? Well, THR is reporting that James Watkins has been chosen to direct the movie. Watkins is coming off directing the remake of Speak No Evil that came out last year. Their sources say that James Gunn met with Watkins Thursday for a final presentation. Now they’ll hammer out a deal for the film.
Clayface is one of the oldest Batman villains. They were created in 1940 and are known for his ability to shapeshift. The film is a mid-budget superhero movie, which is increasingly rare these days. It’s a horror tale centering on a B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to keep himself relevant, eventually turning into Clayface. The movie should shoot later this year and is meant to showcase the range that DC Studios has.
The movie will be produced by The Batman director Matt Reeves along with Lynn Harris and DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. It has a tentative September 11th, 2026 release date in theaters.
There’s no casting for the project yet, but if the DC Studios mandate of having actors who work in animation and live-action is still a key, Alan Tudyk should be the front-runner. He voices Clayface in a comedic fashion in the Harley Quinn animated series and on Creature Commandos. Ron Perlman has voiced him in the past in Batman: The Animated Series and other shows.
Who Is James Watkins?
James Watkins is fresh off his successful remake of Speak No Evil starring James McAvoy. It generated strong reviews and even went a bit viral online for how long and how many times the trailer played in theaters over the summer. He’s also directed Eden Lake which starred Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly. Watkins is known for horror, also directing the terrifying The Woman In Black.
We’ll keep you updated on this as we get more news.
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Source: THR
