DC Studios is making some serious headway withClayface, its unexpected and eerie entry intoJames Gunn and Peter Safran’srebooted DC Universe. The Hollywood Reporter is reporting today thatStar Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerandMickey 17starNaomie Ackie, 32, is in early talks to join the cast of the upcoming film, which will be directed bySpeak No Evil’sJames Watkins.Ackie would join rising Welsh actorTom Rhys Harries, who has already been cast in the title role, playing one of the most bizarre and tragic characters from Batman’s rogues gallery. According to insiders, casting sessions recently took place in England, where Ackie emerged as the top choice. Formal negotiations are expected to begin this week.
The movie, written initially byMike Flanaganwith a recent polish byHossein Amini, is described as a “body horror thriller” with structural and emotional echoes ofDavid Cronenberg’sThe Fly. The story reportedlycentres on a struggling actorwhose face is disfigured by a gangster. Desperate and broken, he turns to a controversial biotech scientist (think Elizabeth Holmes with a scalpel) who offers an experimental solution that seems miraculous—until it isn’t. The budget is said to be in the mid-$40 million range, which isnothingfor a film under a banner like DC, and should hopefully guarantee a profit. Production is gearing up for a start in the coming months, withClayfaceslated for theatrical release onSeptember 11, 2026.
That makes it the third feature film of thenew DCU era, followingSupermanandSupergirl.While the film wasn’t announced in Gunn and Safran’s initial Chapter One: Gods and Monsters rollout, its development has been fast-tracked in recent months, withMatt Reeves(director ofThe Batman) onboard as a producer alongsideLynn Harris, Gunn, and Safran.
Who Will Naomie Ackie Play in Clayface?
Details about Ackie’s potential role are under wraps, but industry chatter suggests she could be playing either the scientist responsible for Clayface’s transformation—or the love interest caught in the emotional fallout of the character’s descent into monstrous self-loathing. Either way, it’ll be a meaty role, without question. Ackie’s recent work has includedstarring roles inI Wanna Dance with SomebodyasWhitney Houston, and last year’sBlink Twice, directed byZoë Kravitz. She’s currently on screens in A24’sSorry, Babyand will soon appear in Netflix’sThe Thursday Murder ClubalongsideHelen MirrenandPierce Brosnan, as well asBoots Riley’sI Love Boosters.
Stay tuned to Collider for more updates asClayfacebegins to… take shape.
