Summary
TheClayfacemovie looks messy behind the scenes, which may spell doom for a film that never needed to be made. James Gunn and Peter Safran have been shaking things up since they took creative control of DC’s film and TV projects, kicking things off with a cartoon rife with lesser-known characters inCreature Commandos. However, numerous projects are coming, with Gunn behind July’sSupermanrelease,Peacemakerseason 2 set for an August debut, and projects likeLanternsin active production.
When Gunn and Safran first started, they announced a slew of projects, many of which are yet to come, like theSupergirlmovie that recently wrapped filming. However, theDC Universethrew fans for a loop when they later announced aClayfacemovie. The film would follow one of Batman’s most tragic and grotesque villains. Clayface began as Basil Karlo, a B-movie actor who went mad, injecting himself with experimental compounds that eventually allowed him to mold his body like clay. He makes for a distinctly different nemesis than many of the Caped Crusader’s other foes, and it would mark Clayface’s live-action debut, but there may be some trouble behind the scenes that could jeopardize the project.
WhyClayfaceIs A Potentially Exciting DC Universe Film Unlike Other Comics-Related Movies Before It
Several facets surroundingClayfacemake the film interesting, as it was never part of their planned slate of DC outings. It was pitched to Gunn and Safran bywriter and director Mike Flanagan. Flanagan has gained notoriety in recent years for his outstanding work in the horror genre, including directingDoctor SleepandThe Haunting of Hill House.While DC may not have been looking for aClayfacemovie, his pitch was good enough that they chose to give it a speedy green light that saw Flanagan pen a script.The news excited horror andBatmanfans alike, as Flanagan has proven himself competent at delivering scares and complex characters, making his outing in the DC Universe something that could continue to infuse the world with fresh takes on old ideas.
What really setsClayfaceapart from other planned projects is the proposed tone, which is said to be a horror thriller. Clayface has always seemed like an unlikely character to adapt to live-action, as he could be challenging to translate due to his appearance, which would require copious amounts of visual and practical effects that would ultimately decide whether audiences buy it. However,the character presents the opportunity to explore body horror and darker themes by focusing on a sympathetic villain who loses himself to a monstrous new form.Clayface may not be the first villainBatman fans would like to see get a movie in Gunn’s DC Universe, but the prospect of a comic book-based horror film combines two of the most financially lucrative film genres, priming it for success.
Why TheClayfaceProduction Already Spells Trouble For DC Studios And The DC Universe At Large
Flanagan’s involvement in theClayfacemovie was its most exciting prospect, but now it seems his first draft is being rewritten.According toThe Wrap,Drivewriter Hossein Amini is penning a new draft of the script, which may spell trouble. Flanagan is a lauded writer in his own right who has shown an aptitude for the genre, and with his name known among horror fans, many were looking forward to his terrifying take on Clayface. However,with a new writer reworking his idea, the project may not have the intended impactful thrills.Furthermore, Flanagan’s track record with screenplays tends to hold higher regard than Amini’s, who wroteSnow White and the Huntsman, the Keanu Reeves flop47 Ronin, and Michael Fassbender’s disastrousSnowman.
James Watkins, who directed the American remake ofSpeak No Evil, is at the helm forClayface, and while he’s a proven horror director, other factors may hinder production. Matt Reeves is also serving as a producer on the movie, and rumors have also stated thatClayface may appear in hisThe Batman 2, which means it may be the same character connected to his sequel or a different version meant for Gunn’s wider DCU. However,the DC Universe has already had trouble defining itself with its broad reach and Elseworld films, making further clutter unwarranted.
Nobody Was Out Here Asking ForClayface, And The DCU Hasn’t Even Established Batman Yet
One of the biggest issues with theClayfacemovie is that it would be released in the second year of the DC Universe, making the film an early entry into the world when they haven’t even established Batman. In what feels like a misguided step out of Sony’sSpider-ManUniverse that saw villains leading films with little to no connection to Spider-Man,DC is committing significantly to one of Batman’s villains before the Caped Crusader.The Batmanis currently consideredan Elseworlds film, making it separate from Gunn’s DCU and leaving that Batman role open. AThe Brave and the Boldmovie is in the works, withItandFlashdirector Andy Muschietti said to be directing, but that movie’s release is also planned for after theClayfacemovie.
WhileClayfacebegan with promise, seeing a horror master like Mike Flanagan take on a character that inspired him,the current early stages of the DCU and script rewrites have quickly sapped it of momentum in many fans' minds.Ultimately, nobody was even asking for a movie solely focused on Clayface, even with him being a fan-favoriteBatmanvillain, so while the project goes through a creative overhaul, whether the film even needs to continue comes into question. Gunn and Safran’s DC Universe is still in its infancy, making the future malleable and potentially bright. However, they have a lot to prove, andSupermanwill play a significant rolein garnering clout when it drops in July. If it proves successful, theClayfacemovie, which is set to begin production in October, will likely keep moving forward for better or worse.
