Why DC's Clayface Could Be A Better Batman Villain Origin Movie Than Joker

The DC Cinematic Universe is officially gaining a new villain. Clayface will detail the disturbing origins of the Dark Night’s most moldable nemesis. It is poised to be among the biggest villain origin movies ever, an honor currently held by 2019’s Joker. The super-villain horror flick arrives in theaters on October 23, 2026, making it the DCU’s final release of the year.

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is one of the most popular villain features thus far. The 2019 hit grossed $1 billion at the worldwide box office, putting it among DC Studio’s high grossing movies of all time (via Box Office Mojo). No DCU feature has topped Joker’s worldwide record since it was set in 2019. This includes Robert Pattinson’s The Batman, which made $772 million worldwide in 2022. While 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux fell flat, the first Joker’s legacy remains towering.

Naturally, the performance of Clayface will be measured against Joker’s astounding success. While Joker has a loyal band of followers, the upcoming Warner Bros. picture may still have a leg up on Phoenix’s psychological drama. The 2026 DCU finale has a lot to offer DC comic fanatics, and could rival Joker’s mighty legacy.

DC’s Clayface Explained

Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen in the DCU movie Clayface

Clayface is the origin story of DC comic villain Matt Hagen. The feature details Hagen’s transformation from a promising actor to a shape-shifting supervillain, following his exposure to a dangerous substance. The former actor initially struggles with his disfiguration before embracing his new superhuman abilities. Clayface is traditionally an adversary to the Dark Knight, though there is some speculation that DC Studios could shape him into an antihero.

Up-and-coming Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries portrays the central character in an already compelling performance. Clayface is helmed by horror-movie director James Watkins (Speak no Evil). The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan penned the screenplay, which received a rewrite from action-writer Hossein Amini (Drive).

The R-rated DC movie has lots of room to play, as this is Clayface’s feature film debut. The comic book baddie first appeared off the page in the animated Creature Commandos TV series. Speaking with Comic Book Movie, Flanagan described the freedom he felt writing Clayface compared to his Carrie TV series.

“Clayface had never been adapted before outside of the animated series and in a lot of the animated work, but had never made it into a feature film and certainly never as the central character,” Flanagan told Comic Book Movie. “And so Clayface for me felt kind of wide open. We were the first to kind of get in and do that.”

As such, the creators could take this character in any number of directions. The ambitious new film leans heavily into body horror, combining the profitable horror and superhero genres. Clayface also appears to play heavily into its comic book roots, to thrilling effect.

Why It Has An Advantage Over Joker

Matt Hagen with his face cut and bloody in Clayface

The Joker is indisputably the most extensively and commonly explored cinematic Batman villain. As such, director Todd Phillips had to reimagine the 2019 feature to offer audiences a new story. Joker pulled away from its comic book roots to deliver a grounded psychological drama. This made for a flick with broader appeal, but less villain origin story finesse.

Clayface has an opportunity to outshine Joker as a straight supervillain origin story. The horrifying flick has the privilege of introducing mass audiences to the live-action Clayface. With no need for re-imagination, the movie can lean directly into its Clayface’s comic roots. The 2026 feature displays the character’s supernatural abilities, including shapeshifting into other people and turning his fist into a literal weapon. Exceptional CG combined with stomach-turning practical effects shows Hagen’s flesh melting off of his body and twisting into new and terrifying forms.

While Joker focused on the character’s internal transformation, Clayface delights in the grotesque physical transformations of its central comic book character. Clayface is a trailblazer, and offers the DCU a thrilling opportunity to take the studio in a new direction. It has a chance to combine the tragic character study it is known for with a uniquely fantastical villain origin story. Hagen’s 2026 flick is set to deliver psychological thrills, classic body horror, and comic book fantasia. Clayface has what it takes to defeat Joker and become the best DC villain origin story of all time.