Clayface: Is Joker About to Enter James Gunn’s DC Universe?

The new Clayface movie is already raising a much bigger question than how Matt Hagen becomes one of Gotham’s most disturbing villains: could the Joker be waiting somewhere in the shadows of James Gunn’s new DC Universe?

DC Studios’ upcoming horror thriller is set to bring Tom Rhys Harries’ Matt Hagen into live action, with James Watkins directing from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The movie is officially part of Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 23, 2026.

That makes every Gotham reference in the movie more interesting — especially anything that could potentially point toward Batman or his most famous enemy.

Clayface Is Officially Part of James Gunn’s DCU

One important detail needs to be established first: Clayface is not part of Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe.

The upcoming movie belongs to James Gunn and Peter Safran’s interconnected DC Universe, alongside projects such as Superman, Supergirl, Creature Commandos and the upcoming Lanterns. The Batman films starring Robert Pattinson remain part of DC’s separate Elseworlds continuity.

That distinction matters because Clayface takes audiences into Gotham City without relying on the version of Gotham created by Reeves.

And that opens the door to a completely new interpretation of the city's criminal underworld.

Why Joker Is Suddenly Part of the Conversation

The Joker has not been officially announced as a character in Clayface. However, the movie has already produced several details that have encouraged fans to look more closely at its Gotham setting.

Earlier material surrounding the production reportedly featured Joker-related graffiti and references connected to a protest involving the Gotham City Police Department. The first teaser did not make those details a major part of the movie's marketing, but other Gotham imagery has continued to fuel speculation.

One particularly interesting location is Amusement Mile, a place strongly associated with Gotham's criminal world in DC stories and frequently connected with the Joker.

That does not confirm that the Clown Prince of Crime appears in the movie.

But it does make the possibility of Joker references — or perhaps a larger setup for the character — considerably more interesting.

The New Trailer Adds Another Batman Connection

The latest Clayface trailer has also intensified speculation about how deeply the film connects to Gotham's larger mythology.

According to recent coverage, the trailer contains a subtle Batman-related Easter egg, including musical material that echoes Batman: The Animated Series and its famous "Feat of Clay" storyline. The animated episodes were an important inspiration for the new movie.

However, the Easter egg is not evidence that Batman himself appears.

In fact, the marketing has so far avoided confirming a live-action Batman appearance, despite the obvious connection between Clayface and the Dark Knight.

That makes the Joker question even more intriguing.

If DC is willing to establish Gotham's criminal environment before introducing its new Batman, could Clayface quietly begin laying the groundwork for the wider rogues' gallery?

Could Joker Actually Appear in Clayface?

At this point, there is no official confirmation that Joker appears in the movie.

The safest interpretation is that DC is establishing Gotham as a functioning city with its own criminal history, rather than treating Clayface as an isolated horror story.

That approach would make sense for the DCU.

The movie is already described as a standalone story, but James Gunn has indicated that Clayface is connected to the wider DCU. The film is also set before Superman, giving it an unusual position in the new universe's timeline.

So even if Joker never appears, the movie could still establish pieces of Gotham's history that become important later.

The Joker Could Be Saved for Batman

There is another possibility: DC may deliberately avoid showing Joker until the new Batman story is ready.

The planned DCU Batman project, The Brave and the Bold, is expected to introduce the DCU's version of the Dark Knight. That means introducing Joker too early could potentially take attention away from Batman's own debut.

Instead, Clayface could simply establish that Gotham already has a dangerous criminal ecosystem.

That would allow future DCU projects to introduce characters such as Joker, Two-Face, Penguin, Catwoman or other Gotham figures without having to explain why the city suddenly has a massive underworld.

For now, though, none of those characters has been confirmed for Clayface.

What We Actually Know About Clayface

The movie centers on Matt Hagen, a rising Hollywood actor whose career is destroyed after he is horribly disfigured. He turns to an experimental treatment that restores his appearance but ultimately has devastating consequences for his body and mind.

Tom Rhys Harries stars as Matt Hagen/Clayface, with Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan also appearing. James Watkins directs, while Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini are credited on the screenplay.

Interestingly, the movie is being positioned as a horror thriller, making it quite different from the traditional superhero blockbuster.

That darker approach could also make Gotham feel more dangerous and grounded, potentially creating the perfect environment for future Batman villains.

Could Clayface Be the Beginning of a Bigger Gotham Story?

That's the most exciting possibility.

Even without Joker appearing, Clayface could become an important building block for the DCU's version of Gotham.

The movie introduces a major Batman villain, takes place in Gotham, establishes connections to the wider DCU and arrives before audiences meet the universe's full Batman story.

If Joker references are intentional, they could simply be world-building.

If they are something more, however, Clayface could eventually be remembered as one of the first places where DC quietly planted a clue about the Clown Prince of Crime.

For now, Joker's appearance remains unconfirmed. The evidence points toward intriguing Gotham connections, but there is not enough official information to say that the character is actually entering the movie.

And that mystery may be exactly what DC wants audiences to keep talking about until Clayface reaches theaters on October 23, 2026.