Clayface: Mike Flanagan Reveals Inspiration Behind DCU Movie

Mike Flanagan has opened up about the upcoming Clayface DC Universe movie that he worked on, revealing the Batman: The Animated Series episode that served as a big inspiration.

What is the inspiration behind the Clayface DCU movie?

Speaking to ComicBook in a recent interview, Flanagan revealed that the two-part episode “Feat of Clay” from the 1990s animated series was what initially drew him to the character.

“Of course it was. I mean that is the perfect [story],” said Flanagan of the episodes. “‘Feat of Clay,’ Ron Perlman, to me, that’s it. That two-parter knocked me out. The short answer is that is absolutely what inspired my script. That is the world I wanted to live in. Batman: The Animated Series when I was growing up was my Batman. As much as [Michael] Keaton was my Batman, The Animated Series really was my Batman.”

The two-part episode details the origins of Matt Hagen, a.k.a. Clayface. In the episodes, after Hagen, a successful actor, is injured in a car crash, a businessman named Ronald Daggett offers him a mysterious substance to take that allows him to transform into anyone he wants. Hagen soon becomes addicted to it and begins working under Daggett to get more.

Despite being inspired by the episode, the status of Flanagan’s vision for Clayface remains mostly unknown. The Life of Chuck writer/director originally pitched the movie to James Gunn, who praised the script. However, earlier this month, reports surfaced that Hossein Amini (Drive) was hired to rewrite Flanagan’s script. It’s unclear how much is changing, but Flanagan hopes that the movie remains true to his original ideas.

“I don’t know what they’re doing with Clayface. I’m not directing it, and that filmmaker will need to make it their own,” Flanagan said. “I know that they’re doing work on the script. I’m off doing other things now, I really hope it remains true to the spirit of what I wanted it to be. But it’s not my movie, so I’ll be in the audience with you, anxious to see how it comes out.”

Currently, not a whole lot about the movie is known, but the list of directors being looked at does corroborate reports that the film will be a horror-thriller of sorts.

On Threads, James Gunn called Clayface a “DCU story,” meaning that it will be set within the continuity of Gunn and Peter Safran’s new shared DC Universe that recently kicked off with the animated Creature Commandos series. 

Clayface is expected to go into production this coming October, though no casting has yet been announced. The movie currently has a September 11, 2026, release date from Warner Bros. Pictures.

(Source: ComicBook)

Originally reported by Anthony Nash on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net