After Superman and Supergirl, the DC Universe is going in a much different direction with Clayface. The body horror movie is coming to theaters this October, and is shifting the newly launched superhero universe away from heroics and into a truly disgusting villain origin story.
The first teaser we got earlier this year was pretty gross, but the latest trailer starts getting even more details, with some scenes that already make my skin crawl.
🎬 Quick Overview: Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries (from The Gentlemen) as the titular villain, whose acting career is derailed when criminals disfigure him. A scientist’s experimental treatment turns his body into clay — with horrifying consequences.
Key Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie | Clayface |
| Star | Tom Rhys Harries (The Gentlemen) |
| Release Date | October 23, 2026 |
| Genre | Body Horror / Superhero Villain Origin |
| Universe | DC Universe (James Gunn’s new cinematic universe) |
What Happens in the Trailer?
In an effort to reclaim his Hollywood good looks after being disfigured, Clayface seeks help from a scientist who turns his body into clay. While it all seems to work in his favor at first, the guy’s face melts into itself and doesn’t maintain its perfect shape.
As this takes a mental toll on him, Clayface tries to come up with quick fixes for his melting skin — including, in one scene, seemingly taking a pair of scissors to his amorphous eyelid so he can see. Meanwhile, I, safely on the other side of the screen, shut my laptop closed and take a lap around the neighborhood.
How Does Clayface Fit Into the DC Universe?
While Superman and Supergirl were pretty understandable starting points for a new DC cinematic universe, Clayface is definitely a more obscure pick from studio head James Gunn. The Marvel Cinematic Universe had to get a lot more runway before it started doing more experimental genre films, but with the film launching close to Halloween on October 23, even non-comic book fans might be in the mood for an unsettling visit to Gotham.
| DC Movie | Release Status | Box Office Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Superman | Released | Successful launch of new DCU |
| Supergirl | Released | Underperformed at the box office |
| Clayface | October 23, 2026 | Experimental horror pick |
| Superman: Man of Tomorrow | 2027 | Sequel to Superman |
What’s Next for DC?
Supergirl hasn’t soared at the box office, but DC plans to return to Superman with the sequel Man of Tomorrow in 2027 before it releases movies that expand out to other parts of the universe. Before any of these movies come out, the upcoming Lanterns show on HBO will bring Hal Jordan and John Stewart into the fold.
💡 Final Word: Clayface is shaping up to be one of the most unsettling entries in the new DC Universe — a body horror villain origin story that feels more like a John Carpenter movie than a superhero flick. With its October release, it’s perfectly timed for Halloween. Just don’t watch it while eating.
