DC Studios Casts Lead in ‘Clayface’ Horror Film, Gunn Says They Were “Blown Away” by Performance
DC Studios has tapped Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries to star as Basil Karlo in the upcoming Clayface film, set to hit theaters on September 11, 2026. According to Deadline, Harries landed the role after outshining other young talents like Jack O’Connell, Leo Woodall, Tom Blyth, and George MacKay, as DC sought a new face for the project.
Harries, known for roles in Netflix’s White Lines as Axel Collins and Apple TV+’s Suspicion as Eddie Walker, has also appeared in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman, Kandahar alongside Gerard Butler, and an episode of Doctor Who. His casting marks a big step for the rising star in the DC Universe.
The movie, directed by James Watkins of Speak No Evil fame, dives into the origins of Clayface, a character first seen in Detective Comics #40 in June 1940. Unlike his usual role as a Batman foe, this film centers on Basil Karlo, a struggling B-movie actor who uses a mysterious substance to boost his fame.
The substance transforms him into a shape-shifting mass of clay, able to mimic any face or form. Billed as a “Hollywood horror story,” the film leans into horror and tragedy rather than superhero action.
After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries. Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy, and can't wait for you to see this film, directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan. https://t.co/EkYFYUvmdA
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 17, 2025
The script began with Mike Flanagan, known for The Haunting of Hill House and The Life of Chuck, who pitched a Clayface film years ago as a “horror/thriller/tragedy.” “They didn’t bite,” Flanagan said then, but he remained eager to revisit the idea.
In 2023, he and producer Trevor Macy met with DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, reigniting the project. Oscar-nominated writer Hossein Amini later refined the script. Flanagan, tied up with other work, passed on directing.
Matt Reeves, through his 6th & Idaho Productions, is producing alongside Lynn Harris, despite earlier rumors that Clayface might appear in Reeves’s The Batman sequel. With a $40 million budget, filming is slated to start in early 2025. The project got its official go-ahead in December 2024 after years of development.
Casting Tom Rhys Harries as Clayface is a smart move to bring fresh energy to a lesser-known DC character, and the horror angle feels like a bold departure from typical superhero films.
Focusing on Basil Karlo’s tragic descent could make this a standout, especially with Flanagan’s early vision and Watkins’s knack for suspense. I’m curious if it’ll connect to the broader DC Universe or stay a standalone gem. What do you think about this take on Clayface? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
