Mike Flanagan is crossing over from horror to comic book movies after signing a deal to write the script for a new “Clayface” movie from DC Studios...
“Haunting of Hill House” creator Mike Flanagan has dabbled in genres outside of horror from time to time and now he’s crossing over to comic book movies after inking a deal to write the script for a new “Clayface” film for DC Studios.
DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn announced the news on social media along with revealing that the “Batman” spinoff film would be released in 2026.
“Exciting news out of DC Studios today as Clayface, a DCU story from a script by Mike Flanagan, has been OFFICIALLY greenlit,” Gunn wrote. “Clayface premieres in 2026.”
Clayface is a character that dates all the way back to 1940 from original “Batman” creators Bob Kane and Bob Finger. There have been numerous versions of the character using that name including Basil Karlo, Matt Hagen, Preston Payne, Sondra Fuller, Cassius Payne, and Peter Malley. The character has undergone several origin stories as well including one who was the victim of a tragic accident and another about a crook who unlocked the secrets of magical clay to grant himself powers.
The most common theme amongst all versions of the character is Clayface has powers that feature a malleable clay-like body structure that allows him or her to transform and mimic anybody. Virtually indestructible, criminally devious and brilliant at improvisation, even the most harmless-looking incarnations of Gotham’s resident mud-based monster represent a massive potential threat.
Clayface has most commonly served as one of the most notable members of Batman’s rogues gallery.
Meanwhile, Flanagan remains one of the busiest people working in Hollywood today with numerous projects already in the works with his next film “The Life of Chuck” due out for release in 2025. In addition to “Clayface,” Flanagan is also developing an adaptation of Stephen King’s “Carrie” for a TV series for Amazon Prime Video. He’s also developing a new take on “The Exorcist” for Blumhouse.
Of course long before he was the head honcho over at DC, Gunn’s horror roots are well documented after he wrote the script for the “Dawn of the Dead” remake directed by Zack Snyder as well as “The Belko Experiment” and he’s also directed his own horror film with the cult classic “Slither.”
