First Clayface Trailer Achieves What DC Has Hesitated to Do

The long-awaited first trailer for Clayface has finally emerged, showcasing a bold direction that DC has traditionally been hesitant to explore.

In this film, Tom Rhys-Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a striving actor whose dreams are shattered following a brutal knife attack that leaves him disfigured. In his desperate quest to reclaim his former Hollywood appearance, Hagen opts for a perilous experimental treatment that spirals out of control. This iteration of Clayface merges elements from both the original character, Basil Karlo, and his successor, Matt Hagen.

As the third installment in James Gunn’s revitalized DC Universe (DCU), Clayface confidently strays from the conventional superhero narrative. Unlike the upcoming Superman in 2025 and this year’s Supergirl, it deliberately shifts the focus onto a villain, reminiscent of the acclaimed 2019 film, Joker.

Revealing the Horror: Clayface Becomes a Body Horror Experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIfpL3mgkFk

Clayface | Official Teaser (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIfpL3mgkFk)

The initial trailer for Clayface boldly categorizes it as a body horror film—an avenue DC has only lightly touched upon before. The footage showcases Hagen’s face grotesquely warping and fusing together due to the ill-fated experimental procedure. One particularly striking moment captures him entirely wiping his face away.

Among several intriguing glimpses, viewers witness Hagen’s hands transforming into a mace, mirroring his comic book counterpart. Notably, with an R-rating, the film appears to dive deeper into the realms of body horror rather than following the formula of a traditional superhero movie.

While DC has previously integrated horror elements, such as the unsettling birth of the Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman and the darker tones present in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy—including chilling sequences featuring Scarecrow’s fear gas—the studio has never fully embraced the horror genre in a feature-length format.Clayface seems poised to fully exploit this fresh narrative path for the DCU.

This shift to horror is particularly fitting, as the superhero genre often hinges on themes of transformation. In contrast to conventional hero arcs that highlight glamorous powers, Clayface’s abilities reflect a harrowing loss of identity. With a script crafted by Mike Flanagan, known for his work on Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House, and directed by James Watkins of Eden Lake fame, horror enthusiasts can expect a thrilling cinematic experience.

As we anticipate the release of DC’s inaugural horror film, be sure to check out our list of the most anticipated movies of 2026 as well as our comprehensive 2026 movies release calendar.

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