Why Batman Won’t Be in Clayface Movie – Plot Explained

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Are you curious about the reason Batman isn’t featured in DC Studios’ upcoming Clayface film? The movie deviates from standard DC narratives, centering around unique characters, an independent plotline, and a location distinct from Gotham.

In this tale, I’m filling in for the Dark Knight, exploring the reasons behind his mysterious disappearance and how the new film ties into the vast DC Universe.

Clayface movie’s reported plot explains why Batman won’t appear

As reported by Nexus Point News and corroborated by studio insiders, DC Studios’ upcoming Clayface movie will not include Batman. Instead, this standalone horror production is centered entirely around the character Matt Hagen and original figures, excluding any appearances from Gotham’s typical heroes or villains.

In the movie, Tom Rhys Harries plays Hagen, a native of Gotham who moves to Hollywood to distance himself from his turbulent past. After a vicious assault, he is left with disfigurement that ruins his acting career. Eventually, Hagen undergoes a startling metamorphosis into a creature capable of shape-shifting. The film takes cues from the Batman: The Animated Series episode “Feat of Clay” and combines the origins of comic book characters Matt Hagen and Basil Karlo.

The storyline revolves around the dynamic between Hagen and Dr. Caitlin Bates, a biotech CEO who leverages his condition for her company’s progress and a potential cure. Notably, Dr. Bates is betrothed to John, a detective who becomes increasingly suspicious of her growing bond with Hagen. In this movie, a crime lord serves as the primary adversary, an original character unconnected to any established DC characters.

James Gunn revealed that the upcoming film “Clayface” is set within the DC Universe, but it won’t feature Batman. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he described it as a horror movie that fits nicely into the body horror genre, and added that the idea was initially pitched by writer-director Mike Flanagan during one of Gunn’s early discussions about DC projects.

Originally created by Flanagan for the Batman Epic Crime Saga, Clayface was later integrated into the main DC Universe lineup by DC Studios. In December 2024, production on Flanagan’s script was approved, and James Watkins was appointed director. Filming is scheduled to start in September 2025 in the United Kingdom.

The film will release on September 11, 2026, as part of Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

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2025-07-15 06:57