CLAYFACE Actor Shortlist Confirmed; DC Studios' Disappointing Comic-Con Plans Revealed

CLAYFACE Actor Shortlist Confirmed; DC Studios' Disappointing Comic-Con Plans Revealed

The shortlist of four actors in the running to play the lead role in the Clayface movie has been confirmed, and we also have a disappointing update on DC Studios' plans for San Diego Comic-Con...

By MarkCassidy - Jun 07, 2025 01:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Clayface

We recently learned that Marvel Studios will be skipping the usual Hall H presentation at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, and we now have an equally disappointing update on what Warner Bros./DC Studios has planned for the annual event.

THR reports that neither Superman nor Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow will be showcased at SDCC.

It's not too surprising that James Gunn's DCU reboot won't be getting much attention since the event kicks off a couple of weeks after the movie hits theaters, but fans were expecting to see something from The Girl of Steel's solo outing despite its June 2026 release date.

There is some good news for Peacemaker fans, however.

"Peacemaker will have a big footprint at the convention, a move that signals DC and Max’s confidence in season two, which bows Aug. 21. And, while DC had no comment, there could be a Hall H panel for the show. Will eagles fly in hall? We're not sure about that, but we hope there will be some dancing."

The trade has also confirmed the recent rumor (first reported by scooper MTTSH) that George MacKay (1917, The Beast), Tom Blythe (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes), Jack O'Connell (Sinners, Starred Up) and Leo Woodall (One Day, The White Lotus) are all testing for the lead role in the Clayface movie.

The site adds: "One source said this morning that the four have now become three, but did not reveal which one is out."

Speak No Evil director James Watkins will helm the project, while Gunn will produce alongside Peter Safran and The Batman director Matt Reeves, with Lynn Harris and Chantal Nong serving as executive producers.

Mike Flanagan penned the script, but was reportedly unavailable to direct due to his commitments to a Carrie TV series and the new Exorcist movie. The project has been given an official release date of September 11, 2026.

Based on previous comments from Gunn, the movie will be set in the DCU, as opposed to Reeves' "BatVerse."

"Exciting news out of [DC] Studios today as [Clayface], a DCU story from a script by Mike Flanagan, has been OFFICIALLY greenlit. Clayface premieres in 2026."

Safran shared a few new details on the Flanagan script, noting that Clayface is indeed going to be a full-on horror movie in the same vein as David Cronenberg's The Fly, and more recently, we learned that the movie will also take more than a little inspiration from Coralie Fargeat's body horror hit, The Substance.

"Clayface, you see, is a Hollywood horror story, according to our sources, using the most popular incarnation of the villain – a B-movie actor who injects himself with a substance to keep himself relevant only to find out that he can reshape his face and form, becoming a walking piece of clay.".

Clayface is looking to shoot in a variety of locales, including Vancouver, Toronto, and New Jersey or Atlanta.

CLAYFACE: These Four Actors Are Reportedly Testing For The Title Role In James Watkins' DCU Movie
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Forthas
Forthas - 6/7/2025, 1:30 PM
Oh boy! They are going to be featuring Peacemaker...

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Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/7/2025, 1:36 PM
@Forthas - Maybe they’ll preview Harcourt’s death scene. Gotta get that character out of the way so a certain actress can come back as the DCU’s Wonder Woman “without it seeming weird”. 😂
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 6/7/2025, 1:37 PM
@Forthas - Gunn's priorities are not where they need to be.
Forthas
Forthas - 6/7/2025, 1:53 PM
@Lisa89 - 😂 😂 😂 😂

I was thinking she would eventually top Gunn's brother and have like six different roles in his universe.

Forthas
Forthas - 6/7/2025, 1:55 PM
@TheJok3r - That may be the understatement of the year. All that is riding on the success of the DC film universe and he opens with the most obscure cartoonish characters (not to mention a literal cartoon) and he expects people to be excited about it?
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 2:12 PM
@Forthas @lisa89 - he hired Nathan Fillions girlfriend too
Forthas
Forthas - 6/7/2025, 2:15 PM
@AllsNotGood - Seriously??? Who is his girlfriend?
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 2:22 PM
@Forthas - cat something or other. She's playing the blonde with glasses that works at the planet
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/7/2025, 2:24 PM
@AllsNotGood -
@Forthas - Mikaela Hoover
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 2:29 PM
@Lisa89 - @forthas

He's literally put her in superman gotg3 and suicide squad
Forthas
Forthas - 6/7/2025, 2:40 PM
@AllsNotGood -
@Lisa89 -

I have never in my life seen a more blatant example of cronyism and nepotism in any industry. I am shocked the Screen Actors Guild does not voice concern about something so obvious that is making a mockery of their profession. .
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/7/2025, 2:44 PM
@Forthas - Mikaela Hoover was also in ‘Super’ (2010).
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 3:12 PM
@Lisa89 - Jesus H Christ
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 3:12 PM
@Forthas - it's sickening the Gunn simps that are ok with this. Be glad to see the back of him if I'm honest
Baf
Baf - 6/7/2025, 3:51 PM
@Lisa89 - I could accept her as Wonder Woman under cover with a big reveal moment and hair color change.
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/7/2025, 4:04 PM
@Baf - That would be painfully absurd. Gunn would love that idea!
Baf
Baf - 6/7/2025, 4:08 PM
@Lisa89 - Didn't Wonder Woman spend some time in the comics as an undercover government agent?
MCUKnight11
MCUKnight11 - 6/7/2025, 1:52 PM
Shame SDCC is more low-key this year.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/7/2025, 1:53 PM
Out of those four choices , Tom Blyth & George McKay are nice picks…

However, I think Jack O Connell would be my pick for this version of Clayface.

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MCUKnight11
MCUKnight11 - 6/7/2025, 1:53 PM
I wonder if this is a one-off and that once the transformation is complete it'll be Tudyk.
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TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/7/2025, 1:55 PM
@MCUKnight11 - perhaps

Though I’m not even sure if this film is even set in the DCU or not.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 6/7/2025, 2:02 PM
Gotta love how much Gunn's family members live rent free in a select group of individuals' minds on this site. Wouldn't be surprised if yall have notebooks where you scribble their names incessantly as you scream into the void.
AllsNotGood
AllsNotGood - 6/7/2025, 2:11 PM
James Gunn featuring clayface
RockBottom
RockBottom - 6/7/2025, 2:22 PM
Looks like it’s gonna be yet another boring SDCC.
BlackStar25
BlackStar25 - 6/7/2025, 2:46 PM
Damn. Nothing from Supergirl? Not even concept art. A scene? Lobo? By the way...I have an ailing suspicion that Lobo's design will not be received well.
LibraMatter
LibraMatter - 6/7/2025, 3:55 PM
Jack O’Connell or George MacKay! Both solid actors that I can see killing the roles. Jack O’Connell would be my first choice but then I kind of hope he doesn’t get type-cast as a charismatic villain. He’s a really solid actor though. He brought so much to “Sinners”. George Mackay kind if seems like he could be interesting in the role. The others seem like they would be meh.

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