Batman Fans Go to War Over Clayface Being DCU Movie’s Villain Theory

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Recent hints about Clayface have fueled a popular theory regarding the future of the DC Universe. After spotting clues related to the villain, fans are now discussing whether he might appear in the upcoming Batman movie, “Batman: The Brave and the Bold.” This speculation was further ignited by comments from James Gunn and Andy Muschietti, the creative leads behind the DCU.

Clayface easter eggs make people think he’s DCU’s Batman movie villain

Fans are buzzing about whether Clayface will appear in James Gunn and Andy Muschietti’s upcoming Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold, after a series of hints. It started when Muschietti included an image of the original Clayface comic book (Detective Comics #298) in the opening of his series Welcome to Derry. James Gunn then shared the same comic online to celebrate the character’s anniversary, adding that actor Tom Rhys Harries will portray Clayface in the new film. This has led many to believe Clayface will be part of the DC Universe.

Harries also posted the image to reveal that filming on the new Clayface movie was in its final week. The movie focuses on Matt Hagen, an actor who is horribly disfigured and tries an experimental treatment after being attacked by a gangster. Planned for release in 2026, it’s a dark take on his origins, drawing inspiration from Batman: The Animated Series. Because both James Gunn and Andy Muschietti are working on big DCU projects, fans started to theorize that Clayface could be the primary villain in The Brave and the Bold.

Many fans on Reddit and X quickly dismissed the idea that the comic book references were clues about Batman’s next enemy. They believe the references are simply a celebration of Clayface’s history. One fan explained that the specific comic book issue was used repeatedly because it’s the only one where Matt Hagen is the primary Clayface. Another suggested viewers should anticipate a standalone story, rather than one that connects to a larger narrative, saying, “Expect a relatively self-contained story.”

Some fans believe the movie might subtly build up the history and background of Gotham City for future DC Universe films. One person commented that even without mentioning Batman, they’d be surprised if the movie didn’t significantly expand on Gotham’s story within the DCU.

Clayface will release in 2026, with Tom Rhys Harries featuring as Hagen.

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2025-10-30 14:56