James Watkins to Direct Clayface Movie

The British filmmaker, who has a history with horror on screens, is now making a deal to handle a new movie under the guidance of studio boss James Gunn.

(Left) Director James Watkins on the set of 'Speak No Evil'. (Right) DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

Preview:

James Watkins will direct the ‘Clayface’ movie for Warner Bros.
Mike Flanagan wrote the script.
The movie would land in theaters in 2026.

With its revamped cinematic universe set to take flight this July with James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ (and with ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ in the works from Craig Gillespie as a follow-up), DC Studios –– run by Gunn alongside Peter Safran –– is making moves to hire another filmmaker.

In this case, the subject is Batman villain Clayface, which has a script in place from ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and ‘Doctor Sleep’s Mike Flanagan.

Yet while he’s long accomplished as both a writer and director, he wasn’t expected to take up the main job on the Clayface movie, since he has commitments elsewhere, including to Universal’s continuing ‘Exorcist’ franchise.

But though DC Studios and parent company Warner Bros. have already been putting feelers (presumably dripping with clay) out about potential casting, the sharper focus has been on finding a director to bring Flanagan’s script to life.

After buzz last week that the choice was coming down to between ‘Truth or Dare’ and ‘Imaginary’s Jeff Wadlow and ‘Speak No Evil’ remake director James Watkins, The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Watkins has landed the gig.

According to the Reporter’s sources, DC co-chief Gunn met with Watkins last Thursday for a final presentation that led to the nod. But that’s just one stage –– a deal for Watkins to handle the movie will now be hammered out.

Who is Clayface exactly?

DC Comics' Clayface. Photo: DC Comics.

If you’re not up to date on the muddy man-monster, here’s your basic briefing on Clayface as a character.

Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the original Clayface, Basil Karlo, appeared in Detective Comics #40, published in June 1940, as a B-list actor who began a life of crime using the identity of a villain that he had portrayed in a horror film.

Kane stated that the character was partially inspired by the 1925 Lon Chaney version of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’; and that his name was derived from Boris Karloff and Basil Rathbone.

The character only appeared twice in the Golden Age but was the inspiration for the shape-shifting Silver Age version. And, as is usual in comic books, the name has been used for a number of similar takes on the character.

In the late 1950s, Batman began facing a series of science fiction-inspired foes, including Matthew Hagen, a treasure hunter given vast shapeshifting powers and resiliency by exposure to a pool of radioactive protoplasm, who became the second Clayface. He retained the title for the next couple of decades of comic book history.

In the late 1970s, Preston Payne became the third Clayface. A scientist suffering from hyperpituitarism, Preston Payne used the second Clayface’s blood to create a cure for his condition, but instead became a clay-like creature that needed to pass his new condition on to others to survive.

Sondra Fuller of Strike Force Kobra used the terrorist group’s technology to become the fourth Clayface, also known as Lady Clay. She formed the Mud Pack with the original and third Clayfaces. During this era, the original Clayface used the DNA of Payne and Fuller to become the Ultimate Clayface (talk about bragging!)

Sometime after the Mud Pack event, Payne and Fuller had a son named Cassius “Clay” Payne, who, as the fifth Clayface, also had metahuman shapeshifting powers.

That’s just a selection of the character’s alternates, who have appeared over the years in various films, series, animated works, video games and other forms of media.

Alan Tudyk voices Clayface in the animated series ‘Harley Quinn’ and ‘Creature Commandos.’ Ron Perlman previously voiced him in animated projects ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ and ‘The New Batman Adventures.’ Brian McManamon played the villain on ‘Gotham,’ while Lorraine Burroughs was Clayface on ‘Pennyworth.’

Gunn and Safran have previously said that actors who play roles in the animated sphere for their DC Studios will also take on the live-action version, but we don’t know if that means Tudyk will return for the movie.

As for the tone of the movie, Deadline’s sources have heard that the Clayface movie is rumored to be a horror-thriller-tragedy, with the lead protagonist not expected to be portrayed as the notorious villain he’s usually seen as.

What else has Watkins worked on?

(L to R) Director James Watkins and Mackenzie Davis (as Louise Dalton) on the set of 'Speak No Evil'.

In addition to ‘Speak No Evil,’ (which made more than $76 million at the worldwide box office on a $15 million budget), Watkins has a history with horror on the big screen and drama on TV.

He made his directorial debut with 2008 thriller ‘Eden Lake,’ which starred Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly as a couple terrorized by a group of youths led by Jack O’Connell.

He followed that up with 2012’s ‘The Woman in Black,’ a ghost story that starred Daniel Radcliff and 2016 Idris Elba crime thriller ‘Bastille Day.’

On the small screen, he co-created the crime drama ‘McMafia,’ and directed episodes of ‘Black Mirror’ and 2022’s TV take on ‘The Ipcress File.’

When will the Clayface movie be in theaters?

This is one directing deal that will need to come together quickly –– Warner Bros. has already handed out a September 11th, 2026 release date for the movie, so Watkins will likely be putting the pieces together and rolling cameras this year.

(L to R) Alix West Lefler (as Agnes Dalton), Mackenzie Davis (as Louise Dalton), Scoot McNairy (as Ben Dalton), Director James Watkins and Aisling Franciosi (as Ciara) on the set of 'Speak No Evil'.