Clayface Writer Mike Flanagan Clarifies Role In DC Universe Movie: 'I Haven't Even Seen It'

It's an exciting time, as James Gunn's DC Universe is preparing to go full body horror with "Clayface." The movie will test the flexibility of this still burgeoning cinematic universe, which Gunn and his DC Studios co-head Peter Safran evidently feel can deliver everything from crowd-pleasers like "Superman" to this latest horror effort. Luckily, "Clayface" couldn't be in better hands. The script was co-written by none other than horror maestro Mike Flanagan, alongside the scenarist responsible for the ultimate sleek and sexy neo-noir "Drive," Hossein Amini. The movie is set to hit theaters October 23, 2026, but it seems Flanagan's input since writing the script has been basically non-existent, as he claims to have not even seen it.

Director James Watkins is lending his own horror expertise to "Clayface," while Flanagan maintains that he hasn't been involved since submitting his original screenplay. "'Clayface,' you know, very much is not mine," he told ComicBookMovie. "It's James Watkins' movie. I wrote a script I loved and I turned it in and then that's the last ... I haven't even seen it. I'm excited to see it and see what James did with it. But that's James' film, and I'm so excited to see what he made."

"Clayface," stars Tom Rhys Harries as actor and rising star Matt Hagen. When a crime boss's goons leave him disfigured, he turns to Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), who administers an experimental treatment that initially causes Hagen to revert to his former self. As you might expect, however, there are some horrific side effects that lead to what looks like some pretty gnarly body horror as Hagen transforms into the titular Batman rogue. Such a story surely would have been perfect for Flanagan to direct, but it seems he moved onto other projects long ago.

"Clayface" started life as Mike Flanagan's brainchild. Back in 2023, Deadline reported that the prolific horror impresario had pitched his idea for a Clayface movie to James Gunn and Peter Safran. At the time, there were rumors that Flanagan envisioned his story being part of Matt Reeves' "The Batman" universe. What was clear, however, was that the writer had long wanted to bring Clayface to the big screen, with Deadline pointing to a 2021 Tweet in which he wrote that he wanted to oversee a "standalone Clayface movie as a horror/thriller/tragedy."

In 2024, it was announced that Flanagan would indeed be joining Gunn's newly-launched DC Universe via a "Clayface" movie, with Deadline confirming as much. At the time, Gunn told io9, "I didn't plan on making a Clayface movie. Mike came in. He pitched this wonderful idea. I was like, 'Damn, I can't believe you got me to want to make a Clayface movie.'" Evidently, Flanagan's first and second drafts of the screenplay continued to impress the DC Studios co-head, to the point he "found a place for it" in the first chapter of his DC Universe slate, titled "Gods and Monsters."

Unfortunately, Flanagan was unable to direct due to his commitments to a new "Exorcist" movie and the then-upcoming "Carrie" series. As such, James Watkins was brought in, after which it seems Flanagan became completely uninvolved.

In his CBM comments, Flanagan stopped short of expressing any outright criticism of DC Studios. But it's fairly obvious he isn't exactly thrilled at handing over his idea. He's also unlikely to be excited about the "Clayface" movie forming part of the same cinematic universe that only recently delivered the box office failure that was "Supergirl."

Asked by CBM about the difference between "Clayface" and his "Carrie" series (read /Film's review here), Mike Flanagan replied:

"['Carrie'] was different because Clayface had never been adapted before outside of the animated series and in a lot of the animated work, but had never made it into a feature film and certainly never as the central character. And so, Clayface, for me, felt kind of wide open. We were the first to kind of get in and do that."

That's about as close as Flanagan could come to saying, "This was my baby and they took it" without actually saying it. Clearly, "Clayface" was a passion project for him, and one gets the feeling he isn't entirely thrilled at how little input he's had since submitting his scripts, especially considering his prior comments. 

During ScreenRant's Midnight Mass panel at Motor City Comic Con 2025, Flanagan spoke about initially developing the idea with "The Batman" director Matt Reeves, saying he had "so much fun developing that with Matt, and then with James [Gunn] and Peter [Safran]." He then went on to express his disappointment at having to pass on directing. "It was one of the great kind of sadnesses of my career that I'm so sorry that when it came time to make it, and they wanted to make this movie right away, I wasn't available." By the time Hossein Amini was brought in to rewrite his script, Flanagan was basically completely uninvolved in the project. 

Now, all that's left is to see how Gunn and co. have shepherded the film without Flanagan's involvement. But considering the second "Clayface" trailer has serious "Morbius" vibes, we're a tad concerned.