The Teaser for DC Studios’ ‘Clayface’ Is Genuinely Eerie

Summary

• DC Studios has revealed the first official trailer for the highly anticipated Batman spin-off film centered on the villain Clayface
• Directed by James Watkins, the upcoming feature stars Tom Rhys Harries as the tragic shape-shifting monster Matt Hagen
• The project operates as a full-blown body horror movie within James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe

DC Studios has officially debuted the first teaser for Clayface, plunging James Gunn‘s newly minted cinematic universe directly into the realm of gross-out body horror. The upcoming Batman spin-off centers on the iconic shape-shifting villain, marking a significant tonal shift for the comic book franchise as it fully embraces an R-rated, character-driven thriller aesthetic.

Helmed by director James Watkins with a screenplay co-written by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) and Hossein Amini, Clayface completely abandons traditional superhero tropes. The teaser previews lead actor Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a struggling Hollywood actor who undergoes a horrific scientific transformation after being brutally disfigured. Footage from the new trailer leans heavily into the grotesque, initially showcasing Hagen in a bloodied hospital bed before mysterious chemicals mutate his body into a monstrous, malleable form.

The visual execution promises pure nightmare fuel. Standout moments from the teaser feature visceral sequences where Hagen literally wipes away his entire face and morphs his limbs into deadly, mace-shaped weapons ripped straight from classic DC Comics lore. Joining Harries in the dark underbelly of this twisted origin story are cast members Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, and David Dencik. Operating entirely as a standalone horror entry within the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate, the film reinforces the studio’s commitment to pushing stylistic boundaries.

Watch the teaser above. Clayface hits theaters worldwide October 23.