Washington DC [US], April 24 (HBTV): The teaser of Clayface has been released, offering a glimpse into the origins of the shape-shifting villain in the DC Universe.
The horror film is directed by James Watkins and stars Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role. Clayface begins as struggling actor Matt Hagen, who undergoes an experimental medical procedure after his face is disfigured in a knife attack.
Although the experiment initially appears successful, it soon spirals out of control as his body transforms into clay, allowing him to reshape his appearance into anyone.
The teaser opens with Matt lying in a hospital bed with a bloodied, bandaged face. After the attack, he is injected with mysterious chemicals that grant him shape-shifting abilities. In several scenes, his face morphs rapidly, at times appearing without eyes or a mouth. In the final moments, he wipes away his face while sitting in a bathtub, while another shot shows his shadow morphing a hand into a giant mace-like fist.
DC Studios shared the teaser on Instagram on Thursday. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on October 23.
According to Variety, Clayface is among the earliest antagonists in the Batman universe, first introduced in 1940 as a washed-up actor turned criminal who used a clay-like mask of a character he once portrayed. The character’s shape-shifting abilities were later established in 1961.
Clayface has appeared in several live-action and animated adaptations of Batman, including portrayals by Ron Perlman in Batman: The Animated Series, Brian McManamon in the television series Gotham, and most recently by Alan Tudyk in the animated series Harley Quinn.
Harries’ previous work includes White Lines, The Gentlemen, Uberto Pasolini’s The Return, and Suspicion. Actress Naomi Ackie will also feature in the film.
James Gunn launched the new DC Universe with last year’s Superman. Upcoming projects include Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, set to release on June 26.
Other titles in development include the Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, scheduled for July 9, 2027, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman: Part II, which is slated for release on October 1, 2027.
(ANI)