CLAYFACE: These Four Actors Are Reportedly Testing For The Title Role In James Watkins' DCU Movie

CLAYFACE: These Four Actors Are Reportedly Testing For The Title Role In James Watkins' DCU Movie

According to a new rumor, a shortlist of four actors are in the running to play the title role in Speak No Evil director James Watkins' Clayface movie...

By MarkCassidy - Jun 02, 2025 06:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Clayface

Four actors are now said to be in the running to play the title role (Basil Karlo, presumably) in Speak No Evil director James Watkins' solo Clayface movie for DC Studios.

According to MTTSH, 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 part, with "one of them expected to land it."

We'll have to treat this as a rumor for now, but if there's anything to it, expect to trades to confirm soon.

Watkins reportedly landed the gig after an extensive search, and met with DC co-CEO James Gunn back in February for a final presentation before officially being offered the project.

"Sources say the film is budgeted at $40 million and is a Hollywood horror tale centering on 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."

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.

What do you make of this rumor? Which of these four actors would you most like to see play Clayface? Drop us a comment down below.

We Needed DCU Content: James Gunn Explains Why CLAYFACE Was Added To DC Studios' Gods And Monsters Slate
Related:

"We Needed DCU Content": James Gunn Explains Why CLAYFACE Was Added To DC Studios' "Gods And Monsters" Slate

THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 2: The Nightmare Is Far From Over In First Trailer For Lionsgate's Slasher Sequel
Recommended For You:

THE STRANGERS - CHAPTER 2: The Nightmare Is Far From Over In First Trailer For Lionsgate's Slasher Sequel

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 6/2/2025, 7:21 PM
It'll be George Mackay.
Negaduck
Negaduck - 6/2/2025, 7:25 PM
not first
tmp3
tmp3 - 6/2/2025, 7:26 PM
Jack O’Connell would be a huge W
tmp3
tmp3 - 6/2/2025, 7:26 PM
He would have been a great Wolverine in another life too ngl
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 6/2/2025, 7:47 PM
@tmp3 - you don't think he still could?
JFerguson
JFerguson - 6/2/2025, 7:27 PM
Love jack. But hope he gets a hero role in this universe
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/2/2025, 7:29 PM
I'm [frick]ing rooting for Jack.

Just looking at him in this [frick]ing photo, he just looks like an actor who will do some dumb shit like inject himself with some bollocka to be [frick]ing relevant.

For [frick]s sake
Lisa89
Lisa89 - 6/2/2025, 7:34 PM
@THEKENDOMAN - Watch your fuсking language!
THEKENDOMAN
THEKENDOMAN - 6/2/2025, 7:48 PM
@Lisa89 - My [frick]ing apologies🙏
thedrudo
thedrudo - 6/2/2025, 7:31 PM
Jack would get me pretty interested in this again.
Huskers
Huskers - 6/2/2025, 7:37 PM
Strange slate of films out of the gate to launch the DCU. Superman is the only one that makes any sense to me. I’m a huge DC fan, but I have zero desire to watch Creature Commandos, Supergirl or Clayface. If Superman is a hit it seems like Batman is the next logical step if you’re building a universe and want to put asses in the seats. Follow that with Wonder Woman, Flash, etc. Follow up with Superman sequel. All hinting at a big bad that leads to the formation of the Justice League.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 6/3/2025, 1:14 AM
@Huskers - Anything outside the five main JL members doesn't make sense at all this early in the process. Lanterns should've been a movie rather than a TV show, and Wonder Woman should be our next big movie next year instead of Supergirl.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 6/3/2025, 11:42 AM
@TheJok3r - Lanterns on Max can really expand the lore, but perhaps it should’ve been a movie first followed up with a show to showcase different lanterns.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 6/2/2025, 7:41 PM
Interesting , I wouldn’t have expected any of these actors tbh but I do think most could pull it off (not sure about Leo Woodall since I haven’t seen him in anything)…

If it’s true that one of these four actors will get the role , my pick would be Jack O Connell though Tom Blyth and George McKay could be nice runner ups imo.

Given the age range of the actors from late 20’s to early-mid 30’s , I wouldn’t be surprised if this version is about a struggling actor or up & comer who probably gets his breakout role in his mind but goes too far which could be interesting to see.
Repian
Repian - 6/2/2025, 7:42 PM
User Comment Image
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 6/2/2025, 7:43 PM
George Mackay or Jack O connel would be ideal
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/3/2025, 10:18 AM
@Oberlin4Prez - This movie not being made and just have Clayface in an actual Batman movie would be ideal. The GA has no idea who Clayface is unlike Joker and Venom. You would think with Morbius, Kraven, and Joker 2 bombing Hollywood would knock it off with solo villain films.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 6/2/2025, 7:44 PM
George MacKay or Jack O'Connell would be cool.
DarthMauve
DarthMauve - 6/2/2025, 7:45 PM
It doesn't make sense to cast a younger actor for Basil Karlo. He should be an older, aging actor who is desperate to a last grab at fame, hence his desperation in taking a dubious substance that changes him beyond his expectations.
ChrisRed
ChrisRed - 6/2/2025, 11:27 PM
@DarthMauve - I get what youre saying. However, if they use BTAS as inspiration as rumored, the character could have an accident that ruins his face. If that's the case, his desperation won't have anything to do with his age.
Arthorious
Arthorious - 6/3/2025, 11:44 AM
@DarthMauve - I think a young role can work, shows the desperation of a kid trying to do anything to get a role. Kind of like Andrew in Whiplash: Young kid who endured physical and psychological abuse to become one of the best drummers
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 6/2/2025, 7:45 PM
I like Clayface and all, but this movie feels like a mistake.
1 2

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

View Recorder