Latest news with #JamesWatkins
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New CLAYFACE Movie Details Involving The Plot and a New Character For The Horror-Fueled Origin Story — GeekTyrant
With Superman ushering in James Gunn's new DC Universe, the next wave of DCU films is already drawing attention, especially Clayface . That movie is being directed by The Woman in Black filmmaker James Watkins with White Lines actor Tom Rhys Harries set to star. This one is shaping up to be a major tonal shift for the DCU. According to Nexus Point News, Harries is playing Matt Hagen, but this isn't your standard comic book take. The film will blend elements of multiple Clayface incarnations, specifically merging Hagen with Basil Karlo's origin. It's reported 'that Hagen is a handsome, up-and-coming actor who's attacked and disfigured. Originally from Gotham, he moves to Hollywood to escape his troubled past and begin a career as an actor. With his disfigurement, his career and outlet as an actor is ruined and is eventually transformed into a shapeshifting monster.' This version of Clayface diving right into body horror territory. The transformation from struggling actor to tragic monster seems like the backbone of what Watkins is crafting… a horror story with a broken soul at its center. One of the more surprising updates is the introduction of a brand-new character, Dr. Caitlin Bates. According to the report: 'Bates is the CEO of a biotech startup seeking to create cutting-edge medicine and medical technology. Bates sees Hagen as a way to grow her company and cure his condition. 'Throughout the process she falls in love with him while her fiance John grows suspicious of their relationship. John is a detective and committed to Caitlin and his job. The antagonist of the film is set to be a crime boss, who like Caitlin and John, is another original character.' Clayface is described as a 'character-driven horror film' filled mostly with original characters, which is an interesting move in a franchise-heavy universe, but one that might give this story the creative freedom it needs. Gunn said of the film: '[It's] pure f***ing horror, like, totally real. Their version of that movie, it is so real and true and psychological and body horror and gross.' If DC wants to carve out a space for villain origin tales with real depth and dread, this sounds like a good start. Production is expected to begin this fall, with a theatrical release set for September 11, 2026.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DC Casts Lead Actor in Highly Anticipated New Superhero Film
DC Casts Lead Actor in Highly Anticipated New Superhero Film originally appeared on Parade. As more and more details are released surrounding DC's upcoming slew of projects, the company has confirmed the casting of Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries in the title role of 2026's upcoming Clayface film. The casting comes as something of a surprise for most fans of the famed comic book company. Rather than opting for an easily recognizable name among viewers, the 32-year-old Harries is more readily known for roles in short-lived series like Apple TV+'s Suspicion and Netflix's White Lines. According to Deadline, Harries was selected over several equally talented young actors from the United Kingdom, including The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes' Tom Blyth, Sinners' Jack O'Connell and 1917's George MacKay. The film will be directed by James Watkins of Speak No Evil fame, with Doctor Sleep filmmaker Mike Flanagan and Drive writer Hossein Amini providing various iterations of Clayface's script. In contrast to most other superhero films, Clayface exists as something of a rarity in mainstream comic book fandom. Rather than focusing on a well-known character like Batman or Wonder Woman, the film will instead follow the Dark Knight's comparatively lesser-known villain Clayface, a B-movie character who transforms into a horrific shape-shifting monster. Rather than existing as a straightforward villains' origin story, the film will instead act as an R-rated body horror film similar to 1986's The Fly or The Substance, as reported by SlashFilm. Further details surrounding the film have yet to be released, but the film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026. Clayface will follow in the footsteps of its fellow buzz-worthy DCU release, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which will debut in theaters on June 26 next year. Filming is expected to take place later this year in October, with further details likely to be announced by DC in the coming months. DC Casts Lead Actor in Highly Anticipated New Superhero Film first appeared on Parade on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Digital Trends
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Who is Tom Rhys Harries? Meet the actor who will play Clayface in the DC Studios movie
The search for Clayface is over. Tom Rhys Harries has been cast as the titular character in Clayface, the upcoming movie in the DC Universe. Per Deadline, DC went with a 'fresh face' in Harries to headline Clayface. The Welsh actor is best known for starring as Eddie Walker in Apple TV+'s Suspicion and Axel Collins in Netflix's White Lines. Other notable roles include Guy Ritchie's The Gentleman, Gerard Butler's Kandahar, and Doctor Who. Recommended Videos Harries beat out Jack O'Connell, Tom Blyth, Leo Woodall, and George MacKay for the role. Speak No Evil's James Watkins directs Clayface for DC Studios. Mike Flanagan, the horror maestro behind The Life of Chuck and the upcoming Carrie TV series, penned the first draft of the script. Oscar nominee Hossein Amini provided additional drafts. Clayface will reportedly be a Hollywood horror tale centered around a 'B-movie actor' who, after injecting himself with a foreign substance to remain relevant, becomes a piece of clay, one that can reshape into many faces and forms. Clayface was first introduced as Basil Karlo in Detective Comics #40 in June 1940. The character is a shape-shifting villain and one of Batman's many antagonists. However, Clayface is reportedly being developed as a standalone movie, not a vehicle to square off against Batman. 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. — James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 17, 2025 DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran will produce Clayface alongside The Batman's Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris. 'After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries,' Gunn wrote on X. 'Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy.' Clayface will be the third movie set in the new DC Universe. Superman kicks things off this summer on July 11. Next year, Supergirl soars into theaters on June 26, 2026. Clayface will begin shooting in the fall in the UK at Warner Bros. Leavesden studio. The movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on September 11, 2026.
Geek Tyrant
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
New Rumor Claims These Four Actors Are Reading for the Title Role in James Watkins' CLAYFACE Movie at DC — GeekTyrant
A new rumor has surfaced which claims four actors are said to be in the running to play the title role in director James Watkins' ( Speak No Evil ) solo Clayface movie for DC Studios. According to MTTSH (via CBM), George MacKay ( 1917 , The Beast ), Tom Blythe ( The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes ), Jack O'Connell ( Sinners , Starred Up ) and Leo Woodall ( One Day , The White Lotus ) are all testing for the part, with "one of them expected to land it." This is just a rumor for now, so we will just have to wait and see how it works out. Do you have a preference in who gets cast in the role? The report went on to talk about the film, saying: "Sources say the film is budgeted at $40 million and is a Hollywood horror tale centering on a B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to keep himself relevant, only to find out that he can reshape his face and form, becoming a walking piece of clay." Gunn will produce alongside Co-CEO of DC Studios Peter Safran, and The Batman director Matt Reeves, with Lynn Harris and Chantal Nong serving as executive producers. Mike Flanagan penned the script, but was reportedly unavailable to direct due to his commitments to a Carrie TV series and the new Exorcist movie. The project has been given an official release date of September 11, 2026.
