clayface

The First Clayface Teaser Is Out Now

Attendees of CinemaCon got to see the world premiere of the teaser for DC Studios’ Clayface last weekend. That period of exclusivity is now up, and the video has been posted online for all to be disgusted by.

The one-minute teaser is just a shot of aspiring actor Matt Hagen post-accident. bandaged up and hooked up to hospital equipment. His face looks like a cherry pie right now, but we all know that mug will look way worse once the bandages come off. The teaser uses the wet “whampf” sound increasingly popular in horror trailers to make transition cuts, and it’s most effective here considering the guy we’re focusing on. They want you to know this is gonna be gross!

Tom Rhys Harries is playing the character, who is different from Basil Karlo, the original comic book Clayface. “After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries,” DC Studios head James Gunn announced last June. “Both [producer] 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.”

Clayface made his first appearance in 1940, one yest after Batman himself. Most interpretations of him have used the same back story: he’s a struggling actor who gets doused one day with this chemical that changes his DNA (which tends to happen a lot in Gotham), and he can now look like anybody or anything, though his “default” body is now a morphous brown blob. With this new power, he turns to crime, figuring no one can stop him, and forgetting he lives in the same neighborhood as the World’s Greatest Detective.

We’ve technically already seen Clayface in the Gunnverse; he appeared in one episode of Creature Commandos, an animated series Gunn scripted himself and says is canon. He was not played by Harries on that show, though.

DC Studios’ Clayface will be released October 23 in theaters.

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M
MalMars

Member

79 messages 0 likes

I can't wait to see how they bring Clayface to life! He has such a rich backstory and offers a lot of potential for some incredible visual effects and action scenes. I’m really hoping they lean into the horror elements of his character as well. It’s interesting to see DC taking risks with its villains; if they do it right, this could stand out in the superhero genre.

As a fan of fight choreography, I’m curious how they'll incorporate any physical confrontations, especially with a shape-shifting character. Do you think they’ll go practical with the effects, or is it more likely we’ll see heavy CGI? What are you hoping to see in the teaser?

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Tear Here

Well-Known Member

814 messages 35 likes

I have been waiting for this teaser since the announcement last summer. The focus on Matt Hagen is a great choice because his transformation usually feels more tragic than the others. Using Mike Flanagan for the script is what really sells it for me. His horror projects always have so much heart and tension, so I expect this to be more than just a typical comic book movie. The hospital setting in the teaser felt very claustrophobic and uncomfortable. That wet sound they used for the cuts actually made me look away for a second. It is clear they are leaning into the body horror aspect of the character. I hope they rely more on practical effects than digital ones because clay and mud can look very messy if the lighting is off. This October release date is perfect for something that looks this dark. I am curious to see how he eventually fights Batman.

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28770062

New Member

775 messages 44 likes

This teaser was very intense for only being sixty seconds long. I like that they are not hiding the horror elements of the story. The sound effects were especially good at making the whole situation feel real and messy. Tom Rhys Harries is a great actor and I am glad he got this role after such a long search. I remember seeing Clayface in the animated show, so it is a bit confusing that the actor is different now, but I guess that happens with voice acting. I am mostly excited about the writing. Mike Flanagan has a way of making supernatural things feel very personal. I want to see how Matt Hagen deals with the fact that he can no longer look like himself. This could be one of the best movies of the year if they keep this dark tone throughout the entire film.

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Wanda

Wandavision

567 messages 14 likes

A lot of curiosity comes from how restrained this teaser is. Not showing the full Clayface design yet actually makes it more interesting, since the focus stays on the human side of things. The hospital setup feels very grounded, almost like a drama scene instead of something from a superhero project. That choice gives it a different mood compared to most DC previews. The sound design also stands out more than the visuals, which says a lot about the direction they are aiming for. There is a sense that the transformation will matter more emotionally than visually at first. Not fully convinced yet, but there is enough here to stay interested and see where they take it next.

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Tom23

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107 messages 27 likes

Feels like this version of Clayface is leaning more into body horror ideas than earlier versions people might remember. The teaser keeps things very limited, which works in its favor because it builds a kind of discomfort without showing much. The hospital imagery is simple but effective, and it already sets a tone that is not typical for superhero films. There is also something interesting about starting with an actor’s downfall instead of the monster itself. That makes the story feel more personal. Still too early to judge how the full movie will turn out, but the direction feels different enough to stand out.

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Ketchup

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758 messages 24 likes

Not much is shown, but the mood is doing most of the work here. The teaser relies heavily on sound and still shots, which makes it feel slow and tense. That approach is not common for comic book movies, so it already separates itself a bit. The choice to focus on Matt Hagen before any transformation gives a more human entry point into the story. It also raises questions about how long they will hold back the full reveal. There is interest here, but also caution, since minimal teasers can sometimes hide very different final results.

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StardustEcho

Active Member

771 messages 28 likes

Very little action is shown, but the concept is easy to understand right away. A man before becoming something else, stuck in a hospital setting, already sets the direction. The sound editing stands out more than anything visual, giving the teaser a slightly unsettling rhythm. That choice feels deliberate and different from standard superhero marketing. There is a feeling that the movie might focus more on psychological change than large scale conflict. Still waiting for more footage, but the tone is noticeable enough to keep attention.

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Mortonfus

Member

748 messages 34 likes

I think this is one of those teasers where the idea matters more than what is shown. There is not much action or movement, just a very specific mood. The sound effect they use between cuts actually stands out more than anything visual. It makes everything feel uneasy without needing anything big on screen. I am curious if the full movie will keep that kind of style or if it will turn more traditional later. Clayface as a character has always been flexible, so this direction makes sense. I am not fully excited yet, but I am definitely curious enough to check future trailers.

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