'Clayface' Rating Officially Begins New Era for the DCU

‘Clayface’ Rating Officially Begins New Era for the DCU

With Lanterns approaching its season finale in three weeks, all eyes turn to the DCU’s next project, Clayface. The body horror thriller inspired by the Batman villain of the same name is set to open in theaters this October, just in time for Halloween. With Batman Day approaching on Sept. 19, a new trailer for Clayface is on the horizon, which means an official rating.

The MPAA has given Clayface an official R-rating for “strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity, and brief drug use.” This is the first for a DCU film, as both Superman and Supergirl were rated PG-13. Coincidentally, James Gunn also revealed a new poster, which can be seen below.

This isn’t the first mature-rated DCU project. Creature Commandos, Peacemaker, and Lanterns all have a TV-MA rating, the television equivalent of an R rating. All three titles feature gore, language, and nudity. If Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is considered part of the DCU canon, then Clayface would be the second R-rated film in the series.

Clayface is directed by James Watkins from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, based on a pitch by Flanagan. Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen, a rising movie star whose career is cut short after an accident leaves him disfigured, ultimately leading him to turn to an experimental cure that transforms him into a monster. Naomi Ackie (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker), Max Minghella (The Social Network), Eddie Marsan (Ray Donovan), David Dencik (No Time to Die), Nancy Carroll (F1), and Joshua James (Andor) also star.

Although not part of the initial DCU slate, Clayface was greenlit on the strength of Flanagan’s pitch and quickly went into production. While references to Gotham have been sprinkled throughout Creature Commandos, Superman, and Lanterns, Clayface will be the first entry in this new franchise set in the iconic city. It will establish the world that will define the upcoming Batman movie, The Brave and the Bold.

Even though Supergirl disappointed at the box office, Clayface‘s estimated $40 million budget gives it a strong chance to turn a profit. If reviews are strong, the R-rated thriller could outgross the Superman spin-off. Clayface being a hit, paired with Lanterns’ success on HBO, could be the rebound the DCU needs heading into Man of Tomorrow in 2027.