James Gunn has confirmed that there is more to come in the story of Clayface. A shape-shifting Batman villain may seem an unlikely candidate to carry a horror movie, particularly when superhero cinema has spent years mining its most recognizable names. But Clayface offers a different kind of menace.

His identity is made unstable, he has face that cannot be trusted, and a body that becomes its own special effect. The character’s screen history has mostly kept him in Batman’s orbit, unsettling larger stories before the spotlight moves elsewhere.

Now, he has a solo film which changes that arrangement, asking audiences to spend time inside the monster’s making in modern popular culture. Gunn’s latest comments suggest the film is an introduction, not a one-off detour for the DCU’s newest horror experiment on screen now.

Speaking to Cinemex on the Clayface red carpet premiere, James Gunn confirmed Clayface's fate in the DCU in the upcoming years. This movie will not be the last time we come screen-to-face with this villain in the making. 

“This isn’t the last we’ll see of Clayface,” Gunn said, adding that he could not wait for audiences to see what the studio does with him. However, the DC filmmaker did not identify a follow-up project or explain how the character will return, leaving his next appearance unannounced.

Directed by James Watkins, Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose career is derailed by disfigurement and an experimental treatment. It restores his appearance, but at a disturbing cost. The movie opens in theaters October 23, giving the Batman villain his first live-action feature, now the first of many, as James Gunn has now confirmed. 

DC Teases a Horrifying New Look at 'Clayface' as the Film Nears Its Release Date

If not for the straightforward confirmation being the final nail, Gunn has perhaps long been at work creating a safe space for the villain to exist as a standalone.

The Clayface promises follow James Gunn’s defense of centering a film on a less familiar DC character. Recently on Threads, he responded to a user asking who wanted a Clayface movie, arguing Hollywood does not make films solely by asking audiences to vote for familiar intellectual property. He pointed to Casablanca, The Matrix and Mad Max: Fury Road as examples not conceived through public polling.

Gunn credited Mike Flanagan’s initial inspiration, followed by work from Watkins and screenwriter Hossein Amini, for shaping the story. He preferred that creative conviction to a screenplay built around a popular character without genuine passion. The exchange positioned Clayface as a creative bet, not a response to fan demand.

Now Gunn has confirmed Clayface will return, though the destination remains undisclosed. For a villain defined by transformation, the next appearance may be the most revealing change yet.

'Hollywood Isn’t a Place Where the Public Votes': James Gunn Defends His 'Clayface' Movie

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