Mike Flanagan enters the DC Universe, will write script for Clayface movie

Horror legend Mike Flanagan has just picked his latest project, and it's a very exciting one. The acclaimed filmmaker has just wrapped The Life of Chuck, an adaptation of Stephen King's short story of the same name. He's working on a new Carrie television series and a reboot of The Exorcist, but in addition to all of that, Variety has reported that he will next write a script for DC's upcoming Clayface film.

The movie was announced on the heels of HBO's critically successful series The Penguin, set in the same universe as Matt Reeves' Batman played by Robert Pattinson.

According to the source, Flanagan actually pitched the idea for a Clayface project to DC Studios and has been wanting to make a Clayface film since 2021 when he tweeted that he had an idea to do it as a standalone project, specifically a "horror/thriller/tragedy."

Given how many projects he is working on right now, it has been hard to work around his schedule, but now it looks like Flanagan is officially set to write the script for the film, although he's too busy juggling The Exorcist and Carrie to take over directing duties too.

Even though DC is sort of juggling two different universes between Reeves' and the recently-restarted DCU helmed by James Gunn (which kicked off with Creature Commandos), it sounds like the Clayface movie will be part of the official DCU canon.

Clayface is one of the most popular villains from Batman's Rogues Gallery. The clay-like properties of his body allow him to shapeshift into almost anything. Clayface has appeared in many DC video games and animated series, but he's only made a handful of live-action appearances, like in the short-lived Birds of Prey series, Gotham, and Pennyworth. He also appeared in several movies in the DC animated universe, notably in the currently airing shows Harley Quinn and Creature Commandos, where he is voiced by Alan Tudyk.

Interestingly, Gunn previously said that actors in the DCU will only be playing one character. In addition to Clayface, Tudyk also voices Dr. Phosphorus and scientist Will Magnus. Gunn clarified in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the rule about casting is for "primary castings," specifically mentioning characters like Circe and not necessarily minor roles. So, while Tudyk could be playing Clayface in live-action, that is still very much up in the air.

DC hasn't commented on this news yet, but stay tuned to 1428 Elm for more information as it comes in!