Clayface, a DC horror film directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries, arrives in French theaters on October 21, 2026. Its final trailer offers a sharper look at Matt Hagen’s bloody transformation and the body-horror approach used to tell the origin of Batman’s most infamous foe.
Hailing from the streets of Gotham, Matt Hagen climbs to become one of Hollywood’s rising stars. His career is brutally cut short when a criminal leaves him badly scarred. Abandoned by those around him, he agrees to an experimental treatment that could restore his face. But the procedure triggers unpredictable mutations that upend his body, his identity, and his sense of reality.
The final trailer leans into the physical cost of this experiment. Matt Hagen’s body twists, gradually shedding its human texture as the actor uncovers shapeshifting abilities that threaten to swallow him whole. The film reimagines one of Batman’s enduring foes within a revenge tragedy about identity loss and an obsession with appearance.
In the comics, Clayface isn’t tied to a single identity. Several figures have borne the name since his first appearance in 1940. The film selects Matt Hagen, the second historic incarnation of the shape-shifting monster, while reimagining his origins to depict an actor determined to reclaim his face and his career.
Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen opposite Naomi Ackie, who portrays Caitlyn Corr, a scientist connected to the experimental treatment. The cast also features Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, David Dencik, Nancy Carroll and Joshua James.
James Watkins, the director of Eden Lake and Speak No Evil, directs a screenplay written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, based on a story conceived by Mike Flanagan. Production is handled by, among others, Matt Reeves, James Gunn, Peter Safran and Lynn Harris.
Rated R in the United States for its bloody violence, disturbing imagery, and language, Clayface is clearly geared toward an adult audience. That American classification, however, does not necessarily predict the rating it will receive in France. The film stands as one of DC Studios’ boldest ventures into body horror, far from the traditional superhero narrative structure.
With this reimagining of Matt Hagen, Clayface aims less to depict the clash between a hero and his nemesis than to chronicle the birth of a monster. Its French release is set for 21 October 2026, two days before it hits North American theaters.
While awaiting its release, check out the films hitting cinemas in October 2026, the movies to watch right now and our selection of the horror films to discover in theaters.
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