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 Dafran 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.

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BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 6/2/2025, 7:21 PM
It'll be George Mackay.
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/2/2025, 8:03 PM
Clayface, huh?

Erin Moriarty?

Megan Fox?

Mickey Rourke?

Demi Lovato?

Kate Beckinsale?
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 6/2/2025, 8:07 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - biggest clayface of all right here…

User Comment Image
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 6/2/2025, 8:11 PM
@MakeAmericaGrea - like seriously look at the lumps, nodules and boluses of clay shifting around in that sloppy sack of orange crepe skin…
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/2/2025, 9:08 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - he Is the president buddy..be civil or be gone
xxDocDropxx
xxDocDropxx - 6/2/2025, 11:55 PM
@WhatIfRickJames - great call! Also biggest conman/criminal there is
TheLobster
TheLobster - 6/3/2025, 12:02 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - god Trump is one ugly POS lmao
jst5
jst5 - 6/3/2025, 12:18 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - Look at all the dumbasses who fell for the troll once again!You got them again and they don't even know it.
CaptainFlapjaks
CaptainFlapjaks - 6/3/2025, 12:25 AM
@MakeAmericaGrea - actually that would be genius. Every little while a new actor is playing clayface. Doesn't have to be the ones mentioned above but that actually could be a cool way to do this. Have all your prospects be casted as clayface
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/3/2025, 3:46 AM
@WhatIfRickJames -

Have you seen

Kamala Heels Up Harris?

Nasty Pelosi?

Brandon?

Fright faces.
TheVandalore
TheVandalore - 6/3/2025, 4:24 AM
@BritishMonkey - my thinking is... Why cast 1 actor? This gives a unique opportunity to hire multiple actors to play the same role... Maybe never confirming to the audience which one was the original.
AgentofSH1ELD
AgentofSH1ELD - 6/3/2025, 5:14 AM
@TheVandalore - I like this Idea. credits show clayface : 17 different actors and actresses names.
BritishMonkey
BritishMonkey - 6/3/2025, 6:22 AM
@TheVandalore - Oh, that's a good idea.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 6/3/2025, 10:16 AM
@BritishMonkey - He should be Barry Allen.
TheNameIsWayne
TheNameIsWayne - 6/3/2025, 10:19 AM
@Malatrova15 - Seriously? Who gives a [frick] that he is the president? Why are you riding him?
SATW42
SATW42 - 6/3/2025, 10:37 AM
@WhatIfRickJames - T.A.C.O. Trump As Clayface Overdue
Malatrova15
Malatrova15 - 6/3/2025, 11:54 AM
@TheNameIsWayne - he rides me
Negaduck
Negaduck - 6/2/2025, 7:25 PM
not first
MakeAmericaGrea
MakeAmericaGrea - 6/3/2025, 3:43 AM
@Negaduck -

🎈💥🥳😴😴😴😴🛌🤤
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
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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.
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