DC’s Clayface Movie Casts Tom Rhys Harries as Lead—Here’s What Fans Need to Know

DC finds its Clayface: Tom Rhys Harries takes on the iconic Batman villain

It’s official – DC Studios has finally revealed who will become the legendary shape-shifting villain, Clayface. The role goes to none other than *Tom Rhys Harries*, the Welsh actor known from Apple TV’s Suspicion and Netflix’s White Lines. And yes, there’s a certain irony in casting a handsome actor as a monstrous clay beast, but that’s Hollywood for you!

Tom Rhys Harries cast as Clayface
Film based on Matt Hagen version of the character
Production starts this fall
Directed by James Wilkins, release date: September 11, 2026
Movie will be part of the new DCU, not a standalone project

Who is Clayface and why does it matter?

Clayface first appeared in Detective Comics #40 way back in June 1940, originally as Basil Karlo, a B-list horror actor turned villain. But the upcoming movie will focus on the *Matt Hagen* version – a tragic character made famous in Batman: The Animated Series. If you remember the episodes “Feat of Clay Part 1 & 2,” you know why fans are hyped. The film’s first draft, written by Mike Flanagan, drew heavy inspiration from this animated version, promising a deeper and more emotional story for the big screen. For more details, check out the report from Variety (source).

Who’s behind the movie?

The upcoming Clayface film will be produced by *Lynn Harris* and *Matt Reeves* (yes, the same Reeves behind The Batman). According to The Wrap (read here), filming is set to kick off this fall. The script’s most recent draft was penned by Hossein Amini, and *James Wilkins* will take the director’s chair. Mark your calendars: the movie’s premiere is scheduled for **September 11, 2026**.

How does this fit into the new DC Universe?

Many fans thought Clayface might be a standalone film like Joker (2019), but DC Studios’ co-head James Gunn has confirmed otherwise. This film will be part of the interconnected DCU, not the separate universe established by Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Gunn explained during the DC Studios Presentation:

“Clayface is totally DCU.”

Peter Safran added more context, saying:

“The only thing that’s in Matt’s world, his Crime Saga that he’s telling, is the Batman Trilogy, the Penguin series, that’s in that lane. So still under DC Studios, still under us. We have an incredible relationship with Matt, but those are the only things…It was important that Clayface be part of the DCU. It’s an origin story for a classic Batman villain that we want to have in our world.”

For more info on the movie’s place in the DCU, check out this confirmation (details here). Plus, James Gunn and Peter Safran explain why Clayface had to join the DCU and not Reeves’ universe (read more).

What’s next for DC Studios?

After the end of the original DC Extended Universe with 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, DC Studios is looking for a fresh start. The new vision is led by James Gunn, kicking off with Superman (in theaters July 11) and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (June 26, 2026). Clayface is set to bring a bold new flavor to the DCU, focusing on the origins of one of Batman’s most tragic foes.

If you want a taste of the classic animated Clayface, check out this video: