Tom Rhys Harries recently opened up about embracing American culture with his parents. The Welsh actor is gearing up for a major Hollywood moment as he takes on the titular role in DC’s upcoming Clayface. The body-horror film marks a darker turn for the superhero genre, drawing from decades of comic-book history to explore one of Batman’s most unsettling adversaries. 

Away from the world of Gotham City, however, the actor has also been making the most of his time in the United States. His family’s visit offered an opportunity to explore the country together, and their itinerary turned out to be rather different from a typical sightseeing trip.

Tom Rhys Harries recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! ahead of his Clayface. When Kimmel asked what he had been doing with his parents, Harries explained that they had flown into San Francisco, driven down Big Sur, and met him in Santa Barbara.

Kimmel was impressed by the family’s immediate immersion in American culture, joking that Harries had jumped in headfirst. The actor had a simple explanation for it.

“I'm a maximalist and America speaks to the maximalist,” Harries said.

Harries' parents' first night in Los Angeles, however, took the experience up a notch as they managed to get tickets to watch the Buffalo Bills play the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, as he described at Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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The trip offered a glimpse of Harries away from the screen, but his visit to the late-night show also provided a chance to discuss the character that has brought him into the DC Universe.

On the same episode, Tom Rhys Harries told Jimmy Kimmel that he revisited decades of comic-book material while preparing to play Matt Hagen for Clayface, drawing on more than 80 years of character history for reference. He described Clayface as a horror film set within the comic-book world, explaining that Hagen initially seems to believe he is living in a romantic comedy before his life takes a much darker turn.

The actor’s most provocative comment came when Kimmel asked whether Hagen could eventually face Batman. While Harries did not accept or deny it, he was sure of one thing: Dark Knight would not stand a chance against something as simple as clay.

“I'm not sure Batman would stand a chance against Clay,” Harries quipped.

Directed by James Watkins, Clayface follows Hagen, an aspiring Hollywood actor whose disfigurement leads him to an experimental treatment that transforms him in horrifying ways. The film also stars Naomi Ackie and Max Minghella, and is scheduled to arrive in North American theaters on October 23, 2026. Its body-horror approach has already drawn attention, with first reactions teasing a brutal DC horror movie.

With Clayface promising a gruesome new chapter for DC, Harries’ bold take on Batman’s chances only adds to the intrigue surrounding the upcoming horror film.

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Are you excited for Clayface? Let us know in the comments.