The cinematic landscape of comic book adaptations is venturing into deeply unsettling territory with the arrival of DC Studios’ Clayface. Directed by James Watkins and starring Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries in the demanding dual role of Hollywood star-turned-monstrosity Matt Hagen, the movie celebrated its star-studded world premiere on Tuesday night at the historic Hollywood Legion Theater. The event drew key members of the cast and creative team, offering a glimpse into what producers and filmmakers hope will redefine expectations for superhero-adjacent storytelling by leaning heavily into grounded, visceral body horror.
At its core, Clayface departs from traditional comic book tropes to explore a tragedy rooted in vanity, desperation, and physical decay. The narrative centers on Tom Hagen, a successful Hollywood movie star whose glamorous life is abruptly shattered following a brutal and violent attack orchestrated by a powerful Gotham City mob boss. Left grossly disfigured and desperate to reclaim his former appearance and status, Hagen turns to an experimental medical procedure. While the treatment initially appears to work, it soon spirals into a terrifying new reality, transforming his flesh with shape-shifting properties and giving birth to the iconic DC antagonist, Clayface.
Bringing such a psychologically complex and physically demanding character to life presented a massive undertaking for the production team, particularly during the casting process. Speaking at the world premiere, director James Watkins described the exhaustive measures he took to find the right leading man capable of anchoring a high-concept body horror thriller. Watkins admitted that he put Harries through an unprecedented casting gauntlet, noting that he auditioned the actor extensively to ensure he could handle the immense emotional and physical demands of the part.
Watkins recalled that after Harries initially came in and demonstrated a distinct spark, the filmmaker felt compelled to dive deeper, spending considerable time exploring the nuances of the character together. Remarking on the rigorous evaluation, Watkins noted that he had likely never auditioned any performer to such an extent, adding that the extensive process ultimately helped both the director and the actor unlock the core of Matt Hagen’s tragic trajectory.
For Harries, whose diverse career spans television and film projects such as Suspicion, White Lines, The Return, Chewing Gum, Jekyll and Hyde, and Unforgotten, the lengthy and intense audition process proved invaluable rather than discouraging. The actor explained that the casting evaluation was spread out over a grueling three-month period, which included two lengthy and demanding screen tests with the director. Because he is relatively untested in major cinematic spaces of this scale, Harries expressed deep gratitude for Watkins’ meticulous approach, noting that the extensive pre-production work allowed them to essentially workshop the character long before stepping onto a physical film set.
That collaborative foundation translated directly into the performances on set, drawing high praise from fellow cast members. Naomi Ackie, who stars in the film as the scientist responsible for administering Hagen’s fateful experimental procedure, lauded Harries for his exceptional work ethic and positive energy amid grueling conditions. Having previously worked alongside another prominent DC star, Robert Pattinson, during the filming of Mickey 17, Ackie offered a unique perspective on the challenges Harries faced. She described him as hardworking and enthusiastic, bringing a lightness to the room that contrasted sharply with the dark, taxing nature of the material. Ackie emphasized that audiences will quickly understand the magnitude of his achievement once they witness the film, noting that the role required Harries to navigate a continuous cascade of physical and emotional transformations while keeping the audience emotionally invested in Hagen’s sympathetic downward spiral, all while maintaining his trademark humor and kindness.
Producer Lynn Harris, who serves as a producing partner to Matt Reeves, also shed light on the creative vision driving the project. According to Harris, the foundational goal was to examine the familiar DC mythos through a deeply empathetic lens, treating Matt Hagen not as a born villain, but as an ordinary person who makes a catastrophic, life-altering choice. Developing that narrative from a grounded emotional perspective formed the heart of the journey for both the production team and the creative architects behind the scenes.
The project’s development history reflects this deliberate shift toward character-driven storytelling. The film originally began as a pitch and initial draft crafted by acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan. However, due to scheduling conflicts stemming from a massive slate of concurrent projects ranging from Carrie to the upcoming The Exorcist: Martyrs, Flanagan ultimately had to depart the director’s chair. Screenwriter Hossein Amini subsequently contributed another draft, paving the way for James Watkins to step in and helm the project as director.
Harries noted that Watkins immediately aligned with the established vision, recognizing the film’s potential as a super-grounded, highly emotional, and character-driven narrative that successfully captured the underlying tragedy of the character.
As the film prepares to expand to a wide theatrical release, Watkins expressed profound excitement about how mainstream audiences will respond, pointing to early preview screenings where both critics and test audiences have enthusiastically embraced the picture. Describing the feature as a comprehensive cinematic experience, Watkins teased that the film functions as a literal rollercoaster ride packed with horror, heart, and humor. He articulated his personal philosophy on the genre, explaining that he prefers horror rooted in relatable human anxieties rather than mechanical jump scares, noting that few fears run deeper than the dread of one’s own body betraying them.
Reflecting on the physical demands of the production, Harries shared insights into the most grueling day of shooting. With a smile, the actor recalled that the most difficult sequence arrived during the climax of the film, finding himself lying amidst a substantial amount of theatrical goo and gunk while completely physically exhausted on his last legs—an experience he hopes ultimately enhanced the raw authenticity of his performance on screen.
Audiences will soon have the opportunity to witness the transformation firsthand when Clayface officially opens in theaters on October 23.