James Gunn Clarifies: ‘Clayface’ Is a Horror Film

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Apr 23, 2026

DC and Warner Bros. released the first teaser trailer for Clayface yesterday, offering a disturbing first look at their upcoming adaptation of the iconic Batman villain.

The film, described as in the vein of The Fly and Death Becomes Her, leans heavily into body horror, signaling a sharp tonal departure from traditional superhero fare.

The teaser itself is overtly unsettling. Audiences are introduced to a red-eyed, bandage-covered Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) before the footage descends into flashes of grotesque imagery. His face distorts, skin melts, and the overall presentation evokes a visceral, almost nightmarish tone. Rather than teasing action or spectacle, the trailer emphasizes dread, transformation, and psychological horror.

Despite the trailer’s clear direction, debate quickly emerged among fans. With characters like Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern, and even Lobo set to exist within the same interconnected universe, some questioned whether Clayface would ultimately function as a hybrid-blending superhero elements with horror, or remain committed to a single genre.

James Gunn addressed those concerns directly. Responding to questions about the broader direction of the DCU, Gunn reiterated that while the universe is interconnected, each project is designed to stand on its own creatively. “From the start, we’ve been very clear that the DCU would be interconnected, but each project would be full expressions of their writers and directors,” he stated. He went on to clarify the film’s identity without ambiguity: “Clayface is not a ‘hybrid superhero horror film’, it is a horror film.”

That distinction appears central to the film’s creative intent. Rather than conforming to expectations tied to shared-universe storytelling, Clayface is positioned as a genre-first experience, prioritizing atmosphere and fear over traditional comic book structure.

With its release set for October 23, 2026, Clayface stands as one of the more unconventional entries in the evolving DCU slate. If the teaser is any indication, audiences should expect a film that fully embraces horror, unapologetically, and without compromise.

‘Clayface’ Trailer Teases Full-Blown Body Horror Nightmare
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