James Gunn Didn’t Plan On a Clayface Movie, Was Convinced By Mike Flanagan’s Script

James Gunn says that he had no intention on making a Clayface movie, but that Mike Flanagan’s script for the upcoming film was too good to ignore. As previously reported, DC Studios has set a release date for the Flanagan-written movie for September 11th, 2026. Gunn spoke with io9 for a new interview and said that he had no intention for a film on the Batman villain until he saw the horror writer-director’s screenplay.

“I didn’t plan on making a Clayface movie,” Gunn told the outlet. “Mike came in. He pitched this wonderful idea. I was like, ‘Damn, I can’t believe you got me to want to make a Clayface movie.’ But he’s got to write the script and who knows how that’s going to work. He goes and he writes the script. First draft is great. Second draft is even better. And then I’m like, ‘Let’s do it.’ So we found a place for it because if there’s quality stuff, we can find a way to work it in.“

He also noted regarding other DC projects, “There are lots of things that are getting reported that I haven’t green-lit and I haven’t said okay to. Some of those are true in terms of they’re in development, and some of them are not true. [And just] because they’re in development, that doesn’t mean I’m going to make that movie. There’s a lot of things people seem to be counting on that it may be unwise to count on.“

Flanagan is reportedly not directing the film as he has a busy slate ahead of him that includes a new take on The Exorcist franchise.