The DC studio executive James Gunn is quite the regular on Threads. He often jumps into fan conversations, makes announcements, and puts rumors to bed through the social media platform. Recently, as James Watkins’ upcoming body-horror film draws closer to release, the rumors and speculation surrounding the project have only intensified, and Gunn has partaken in amplifying it. 

When a fan asked him about rumors that Clayface was supposed to be part of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, the filmmaker put the speculation to rest once and for all.

On Threads, a user named james.always.witty, asked James Gunn if Clayface was ever developed with Matt Reeves’ Batman universe in mind.

"No. From the first draft it was in the DCU," Gunn wrote in response. 

The Clayface project dates back to the era when Matt Reeves was exploring spin-offs from The Batman’s rogues’ gallery. Mike Flanagan had already pitched a tragic horror-thriller take on the character years before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over DC Studios, with Reeves later coming aboard as a producer.

Flanagan’s early discussions about the project coincided with Reeves’ efforts to expand The Batman universe. This led fans to believe that Clayface, starring Tom Rhys Harries, would be part of Reeves’ Gotham. This was not the only time James Gunn addressed this rumor. During a DC Studios presentation last year, Gunn and Peter Safran explained why Clayface needed to be part of the DCU, adding to Gunn's clarification over on Threads. 

“Very Much Not Mine” – Mike Flanagan Clears the Air on His Connection to DC’s ‘Clayface’

They also shed light on the only element from Matt Reeves’ universe that is connected to the 2026 film.

As reported by IGN, James Gunn explained that bringing Clayface into the DCU was important because the film tells the origin story of a classic Batman villain they wanted to have in their world. Gunn also made it clear that the character would not have been a natural fit for the more The Batman Epic Crime Saga.

“It was very outside of the grounded non-super metahuman characters in Matt's world,” Gunn stated during a DC Studios presentation. 

Gunn also revealed that The Penguin is the only piece of Reeves’ world that carries over into Clayface. The film shares continuity with the series through DC Studios’ villain projects, while production set photos also feature environmental Easter eggs linking the two. With The Penguin and Clayface, DC is putting its classic Batman villains front and center in stories that lean into gritty realism and horror rather than the usual superhero spectacle.

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What do you think about the upcoming Clayface and James Gunn's clarification? Let us know in the comments!