Clayface: Mike Flanagan has pitched a DC villain film to the studio as a tragic horror monster mash

This report is not a drill! According to Deadline, Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep) has pitched a horror-centric creature feature about the classic DC villain Clayface! Before I explode from thinking about the possibilities (Clayface is among my top villains in comics), the project has not yet been given the green light… yet. To be clear, the studio has not said “No,” but there have been no offers or deals for the project. If DC approves the project, Clayface will be a villain—none of the villain-becomes-hero nonsense.

Deadline says Flanagan and his Intrepid Pictures partner Trevor Macy had a meeting with DC bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran. The outlet says Flanagan wasn’t pitching the villain as a part of Matt Reeves’ The Batman sequel. However, Deadline also says scripts are constantly in flux, and Clayface is “a big addition to The Batman 2.” I wouldn’t cash that check yet, folks. Wait for the mud to settle before you shout Clayface’s name atop a Gotham City gargoyle statue.

Re: CLAYFACE – the news today is entirely speculative. When or if something like that ever becomes real, I promise I’ll tell you guys. 🙂

— Mike Flanagan (@flanaganfilm) March 29, 2023

Clayface’s story is quite tragic, and his ability to shift into any person or mold his body into any weapon makes him a formidable foe and then some. While the concept might not be as “grounded” as Phillips’ idea for the Clown Prince of Crime (Joker), I think someone who’s far more clever than me could work up a great story featuring the clay-covered character.

In 2019, Dave Bautista said he’d love to play Clayface in a movie for DC Studios. Bautista expressed interest in playing the Matt Hagen version of Clayface. Matt Hagen is the second person to arrive as Clayface in the DC’s comic book universe. The original Clayface went by the name of Basil Karlo, who, before becoming the monster we all know and fear, worked as a mediocre actor who his casting director once told that he wasn’t good enough to get a substantial role. Looking for an edge, Karlo turned to the crime boss Penguin for help. The Penguin offered Basil a hunk of mystical clay, which he claimed would solve Karlo’s acting problems, in exchange for the actor’s services as a henchman. Basil agreed and received his unique powers when the clay leaped on him, entered his bloodstream, and rewrote the fabric of his body. (via DC Wikia)

As for the Matt Hagen version: Matthew Hagen was scuba diving for sunken treasure when he found a mysterious pool of protoplasm in a cave. Immersing himself in it by accident, he was transformed into a malleable clay-like form that could morph into almost anything he desired. However, this effect was temporary, requiring him to return to the pool periodically to maintain the use of his powers. This weakness allowed Batman to capture and arrest Hagen. Shortly after, Hagen broke out of prison and decided to investigate the protoplasmic substance that transformed him into Clayface. In the meantime, Clayface impersonated wealthy men in Gotham City, allowing him to learn about his criminal activities. (via DC Wikia)

In the past, Flanagan has said his version of Clayface would be a standalone horror thriller with a tragic character at the center. I’ve never wanted anything more from a comic book movie. Make this happen, DC! If you love me at all, you’ll give Flanagan a chance to make this incredible idea a reality.