CLAYFACE Set Photos Confirm A Key Element Of Robin's Origin Story (But It's Not Damian Wayne)

CLAYFACE Set Photos Confirm A Key Element Of Robin's Origin Story (But It's Not Damian Wayne)

New photos from the set of Clayface reveal a nod to a major part of Robin's origin story, but which version of the Boy Wonder does it reference? We also have some shots suggesting we'll see Ace Chemicals.

By JoshWilding - Sep 11, 2025 11:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Clayface

DC Studios has failed to get The Brave and the Bold off the ground after announcing it at the start of 2023. The plan for that movie is to follow Bruce Wayne as he trains his newly discovered 10-year-old son, Damian, as the new Robin. 

The implication there seems to be that the Bat-Family already exists, and if James Gunn is following the comics, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake should have all served as the Dark Knight's sidekick. Dick and Jason, however, will be paired up as two Robins in the animated Dynamic Duo (which is expected to be an "Elseworlds" title). 

New photos from the set of Clayface reveal a poster for the Flying Graysons, the travelling family of acrobats, who work for Haly's Circus.

The group consisted of husband-and-wife team John and Mary Grayson, plus their son Dick, who is taken in by Bruce after the teenager's parents are gunned down. As Batman's ward, he's trained as the hero's first sidekick, Robin. 

This poster doesn't look over a decade old, suggesting Clayface either takes place in Gotham City's past or that Dick is still part of the Flying Graysons at this point. If so, that really muddies the waters of the DCU's timeline, and who should be Robin. 

We'll have to wait and see what happens there, but other photos seem to indicate that we'll visit Ace Chemicals, the iconic Gotham City location that saw Red Hood fall into a vat of chemicals, which transformed him into The Joker. 

Could the mysterious substance that turns actor Matt Hagen into "Clayface" have ties to Ace Chemicals? That's another "TBD" element of this movie, and the pressure is on DC Studios to make sure Clayface satisfies fans eager to learn more about the DCU's Batman. 

You can take a closer look at these new photos from the UK set of Clayface in the X posts below. 

Promoting Superman, Gunn was asked why Clayface was brought into the DCU rather than being an Elseworlds title. "Well, I think it was just we needed DCU content," the Superman director admitted. "Mike Flanagan is somebody who I've been friendly with for a long time, and he wrote me about Clayface. He texted me about it really early on in my DC journey."

"Just being honest, I did not think that was something that was going to happen, but he came in and he pitched the idea and I was like, "Oh s---! That's cool." It's a body horror movie," Gunn teased. "It's a horror movie that, like any cool body horror movie, just happens to be in the DCU. And then he wrote the script, and the script was fantastic. We did not plan to do Clayface."

The cast of Clayface will be led by newcomer Tom Rhys Harries, with Eddie Marsan, Max Minghella, and Naomi Ackie set to join him in undisclosed roles. The movie, written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, and directed by James Watkins, is set to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026. 

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Matchesz
Matchesz - 9/11/2025, 11:21 AM
If this turns out really incredible i’m going to wish it was apart of the Matt Reeves batverse.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:09 PM
@Matchesz - and then in turn wishing his universe folds into the DCU
MGSSnake1988
MGSSnake1988 - 9/11/2025, 11:26 AM
Cool to see DC try to do small scale films this time.

Also, what's going on with other users on this site? Did they just invent Facebook and feel Mark Zuckerberg diluted their shares for sharing another guy's opinions that never resonated with them?

That's messed up.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:10 PM
@MGSSnake1988 - a lot of users blocked a lot of people last night because some genius brought up the CK shooting on a supergirl talkback
ThorArms
ThorArms - 9/11/2025, 11:41 AM
a 10 year old fighting crime is lol...lmao, even
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:11 PM
@ThorArms - um .... 🤔 like Hit Girl?
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 9/11/2025, 11:42 AM
I wonder if this movie will be set in the past a bit?
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/11/2025, 12:12 PM
@TheFinestSmack - it's gotta be if it's in Gunns DCU. Clayface already showed up in creature commandos
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:12 PM
@NonPlayerC - makes complete sense
PC04
PC04 - 9/11/2025, 11:44 AM
That is very cool. We need a good live action Robin alongside Batman. Really hope this is more than just an easter egg.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:14 PM
@PC04 - I honestly would have no problem if Nightwing showed up to take on Clayface outta nowhere in the last fourth of the film. As long as he doesn't quip 'F*** Batman while fighting crime.
PC04
PC04 - 9/12/2025, 7:31 AM
@lazlodaytona - Would not be opposed to that either. =) And yeah, no "F**K Batman" lines. That was so out of left field.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/12/2025, 10:02 AM
@PC04 - I'm glad I'm not alone 😄
RolandD
RolandD - 9/11/2025, 11:48 AM
The poster looks older than 10 years old to me. Also, the outfit she is wearing in the poster looks extremely old school like turn of the prior century. Interesting.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/11/2025, 11:57 AM

I hope this is great, but running out Clayface before figuring out Batman is just sad.
NonPlayerC
NonPlayerC - 9/11/2025, 12:17 PM
@DocSpock - yeah it's definitely odd, but I think it can work. I like this directors creepy shows like fall of the hose of usher and midnight mass. Was gonna check out his latest movie with tom Hiddeltson, life of chuck In the next few days but that's more wholesome. It is weird not having batman show up at all like in the penguin show. Not sure if bats was even mentioned in that. Loved the show but more batman is always good
Linux1172
Linux1172 - 9/11/2025, 1:37 PM
@DocSpock - Agree. I think its great they are doing a horror angle (if it truly is) but honestly do Batman first, show us who Robin is in this universe too. I hope Batman in this universe is more detective/horror than we've seen in other representations of him in other films. THEN you can bring out Clayface, a criminal maybe not so many non-comicbook fans even know. I can see a lot of folks being confused who this even is.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:19 PM
@DocSpock - I don't think it is. I said in a newer article on HUSH on the main page:

"I think it's a great idea to drop all of these Easter eggs in this Batman Universe beginning.
Never get why people always b1tch about 'a batman movie/tv show without batman.' pHe arguably has the greatest rogues in all of comics because of their fascinating origins and part in Gotham City.

The DCU can hold off on introducing Bats because he's been done to death, there's currently an elseworlds version happening, and establishing Gotham's world is better than just plopping bats right in there so we can actually see why he took up the mantle (as Batman Begins showed perfectly)."
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/11/2025, 7:27 PM
@NonPlayerC -

House of Usher was great. I like this director.
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/11/2025, 7:30 PM
@Linux1172 -

Yep. The way Nolan opened with Batman begins whetted everyone's appetite for more. I don't know if Clayface can do that.
MuadDib
MuadDib - 9/11/2025, 12:03 PM
I pray they don’t mess up the BatFamily or Dicks history as the first Robin.
RolandD
RolandD - 9/11/2025, 5:40 PM
@MuadDib - Agreed. It always bugged me that Scott was not the first X-Man and Alex was the older brother, not the younger one. It also bugged me that Dick was dead in the Snyder.
RolandD
RolandD - 9/11/2025, 5:40 PM
@MuadDib - Agreed. It always bugged me that Scott was not the first X-Man and Alex was the older brother, not the younger one. It also bugged me that Dick was dead in the Snyderverse.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:21 PM
@MuadDib - dick history IS important
Spike101
Spike101 - 9/11/2025, 12:14 PM
I’d really like to see them do a credible take on Robin without destroying the character or making him really campy.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/11/2025, 1:17 PM
@Spike101 - Batman and robin where goofy years ago batman say chum to robin almost always have smile on his face until dc decide finaly go dark with him
Spike101
Spike101 - 9/11/2025, 4:31 PM
@dragon316 - we can only wish, but yes darker is the way to go.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:23 PM
@Spike101 - I just wanna see the reverse of the meme of Batman smacking Robin.
Robin smacking Bats like Bruce is a little b1tch would be hilarious.
Spike101
Spike101 - 9/12/2025, 2:32 AM
@lazlodaytona - yes I think he should be almost on a par with him so bring it on.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/12/2025, 9:59 AM
@Spike101 - Absolutely!!
MisterBones
MisterBones - 9/11/2025, 12:18 PM
Easter eggs galore
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 9/11/2025, 7:24 PM
@MisterBones - no better way to chase a White Rabbit
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/11/2025, 12:56 PM
Interesting….

Honestly , I don’t expect these posters or locations to be anything more then set dressing just to help build out the world more aswell as give fans some fun Easter eggs so ultimately I don’t see them having any bearing , atleast as of now on characters we meet in the DCU but we’ll see.

However it could be that this film takes place in the past if this version of the character is the same as the one we saw in CC (I hope not) so who knows how long he was in that form for hence Bruce might have already had Dick as Jason or even Tim (hell , we may even skip over a Robin or 2 in this universe).
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/11/2025, 1:39 PM
Battinson yet? Come on, Reeves, shit looks really good! Surely this is worthy.

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