Watch The Animated Classic That Inspired ‘Clayface’ Before The DC Horror Drops
Clayface (2026) is poised to be a potentially compelling entry to this year’s slate of horror movies, especially since it’s taking cues from a bonafide classic of the superhero genre. The film focuses on Matt Hagen, aka the shape-shifting Clayface. Typically depicted as one of Batman’s most visually distinctive supervillains, the movie serves as an origin story for the disgraced actor, highlighting how his efforts to bounce back from an attack that disfigured his handsome face led him down a path to become a monstrous villain.
The movie has a different tone than almost anything else DC has done lately, feeling more akin to the loose adaptation Joker (2019) than the more comics-inspired takes on the material that usually come out on the big screen. However, while Clayface doesn’t seem to be setting itself up as a natural follow-up to the likes of Blue Beetle (2023), it does have clear shared DNA with the DC Universe. In fact, the film is directly inspired by one of the most memorable two-parters from Batman’s most arguably influential animated adaptation.
‘Clayface’ Is Inspired Directly By ‘Batman: The Animated Series’
Batman: The Animated Series (1992) remains one of the most influential takes on the Caped Crusader in pop culture. Even beyond the sprawling shared superhero DC Animated Universe it established, which led to the likes of Superman: The Animated Series (1996), Batman Beyond (1999), and Justice League (2001), the show inspired lots of new takes on classic concepts while also establishing new faces like Harley Quinn. Among the show’s best reimaginings was “Feats of Clay,” a two-part episode that introduced the show’s version of Clayface. Starring Ron Perlman as Matt Hagen, the storyline follows the disfigured actor who has taken to using the experimental drug Renuyu to alter his appearance.
After framing Bruce Wayne and stealing intel on behalf of crooked businessman Roland Daggett, Hagen is attacked by Daggett's men and force-fed the drug in an attempt to silence him. This overexposure transforms Hagen into the hulking Clayface, who goes on a vengeful crusade to kill Daggett, putting him at odds with Batman’s efforts to expose the criminal and clear Bruce Wayne’s name. The two-parter clearly had a major influence on the Clayface film, especially its depiction of Matt Hagen as a handsome actor who turns to a dangerous formula to restore his good looks after criminals disfigure him. Clayface would return as a recurring threat in other DCAU, but the character was never more complex, scary, and pitiful than he was in “Feats of Clay.”
‘Clayface’ Is More Than Just A Modernization Of “Feats of Clay”
As reported on by Popverse, Mike Flanagan—who wrote the original screenplay for Clayface—told the crowd at Motor City Comic-Con that he was directly inspired by the two-parter, even calling the episode a “formative” storyline for him as a kid. However, it’s clear even from the trailers for Clayface that the filmmakers decided they wanted to do something different with the same underlying idea. While the trailers indicate that Clayface’s origin story will fundamentally remain the same, it’s unclear if it’s because he’s been actively double-crossed by criminals or if he ended up a target because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The film also seems to be largely side-stepping Bruce Wayne and Batman’s role in “Feats of Clay,” shifting the focus and keeping the spotlight on Matt. It makes the movie much more about the tragedy and the horror of the situation by zeroing in on an actor who is willing to do anything and become anyone to get back the life he believed he was owed, which makes perfect sense as a story that Mike Flanagan worked on. The Midnight Mass (2021) creator was even excited about directing the project but had to back out to make Carrie (2026), suggesting that it shares an overarching tone of brutal horror and heartbreaking humanity with many of Flanagan’s other works.
‘Clayface’ Is A Crucial Key To The DCU’s Future
Clayface comes at an intriguing time for the DC Universe. Ever since James Gunn and Peter Safran took over the franchise following the conclusion of the DC Extended Universe, the franchise has been dealing with some serious highs and lows. While Superman (2025) and Lanterns (2026) have been critical hits and landed well with broader audiences, misfires like Supergirl (2026) highlight the volatility of the superhero genre in the current landscape. Clayface is a good chance for the franchise to establish what the film slate can look like.
Clayface presents an opportunity for the DC Universe to showcase a different kind of storytelling, one that uses the metaphor of powers not just as a heroic fantasy or a subversive comedy like Peacemaker (2022) or Creature Commandos (2024), but as the foundation for a significantly more dramatic and emotional kind of storytelling. Especially if Batman doesn’t show up in the film, the movie could theoretically be seen less as an expansion of the DC Universe and more as a self-contained story within it. If the movie falters, DC may retreat back to the more overtly bombastic characters and stories. A success, however, could open the door for a DC Universe that’s willing to play with genre and tone a lot more liberally. In that sense, it’s the true heir to “Feats of Clay,” a story that blended together superhero lore and real tragedy to create a horror story that could also be exciting, funny, and even heartbreaking.
