Mike Flanagan’s Clayface Movie Could Redefine DC Horror

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Summary

  • DCU fans anticipate a Clayface movie written by Mike Flanagan, described as a Hollywood horror story.
  • Flanagan’s take on Clayface seems to mix the character’s comic book roots with the animated series iteration.
  • Flanagan’s expertise in injecting human themes into horror projects bodes well for the Clayface movie’s potential success.

There’s a great deal of excitement building up for DCU’s upcoming cinematic lineup, set to debut this summer with James Gunn’s take on Superman. While it’s the return of DC’s most famous heroes that has fans buzzing, horror enthusiasts might find themselves particularly thrilled about a lesser-known project: a movie adaptation of Clayface, written by Mike Flanagan.

Little is known about the project so far, but some scant details were recently shared that give fans an idea of how Flanagan is framing the story. It’s described as a “Hollywood horror story” centered around the character’s most famous incarnation, a B-movie actor who takes a serum in order to stay young-looking and relevant in the movie business, with the unfortunate side effect of transforming him into a malleable monster. This basic setup sounds an awful lot like one of 2024’s biggest horror films, which also explored the horrors of aging in Hollywood and the lengths some will go to stay youthful: Coralie Fargeat’s Oscar-nominated The Substance. Without feeling like a knock-off, Flanagan’s Clayface movie could take some inspiration from The Substance to locate the humanity within the horror.

The Substance’s Clayface Parallels

As a film aficionado, I’m finding Flanagan’s portrayal of Clayface intriguing, blending elements from the character’s earliest manifestation with the version we saw in ‘Batman: The Animated Series’. Originally, Clayface was Basil Karlo, a struggling actor from the 1940s, who resorted to crime after learning that his iconic movie wouldn’t feature him in the leading role anymore. Instead of science-gone-wrong, this interpretation presents Clayface as an alter ego derived from one of Karlo’s films, reflecting the struggles of an aging artist trying to hold onto his past glory.

In “The Animated Series,” the character first seen in the episode “Feat of Clay” is portrayed as Matt Hagen, a man disfigured in an accident who receives a drug that restores his appearance, but becomes the familiar monster when given too much of it. This adaptation merges the character’s comic book origins with a more nuanced background, making him both victim and antagonist. From the brief summary, Flanagan’s portrayal appears to be inspired by a similar source.

It is clear that Clayface existed long before the movie “The Substance”, and Fargeat hasn’t hinted at any influence from the character on her film. However, there are noticeable similarities between the two stories. In “The Substance”, the protagonist, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), is a TV fitness guru who faces age discrimination when she’s deemed too old to host her show. After a car accident and while at the hospital, she receives a card for a substance called “The Substance” that promises to restore some of her youth. With her career on the line, Elisabeth decides to try this mysterious drug, leading to all sorts of chaos.

Both narratives serve as warnings against resisting the inevitable process of growing older, yet they gain their strength from their cinematic backdrop of Hollywood. Hollywood places great emphasis on youth and freshness, which provides a compelling reason for the characters when their age endangers their careers. The Substance distinguished itself within the horror genre by tying its gruesome body horror to a profound thematic foundation, and Flanagan’s Clayface movie may emulate this approach.

Why Clayface is a Good Choice for Flanagan

Flanagan is currently juggling multiple projects, including the ongoing development of “Dark Tower” and “Carrie” series, as well as the upcoming movie “The Life of Chuck”. It’s been mentioned that he will only be penning the script for Clayface, not directing it. However, there are still ample chances for him to infuse his unique perspective into the project, primarily through his talent for creating compelling characters. Flanagan’s works often blend horror narratives with profound human themes such as grief and addiction, so it’s quite possible that he will adopt a similar style for Clayface.

In a departure from his usual horror themes centered around the supernatural and human cruelty, this character seems to fall outside Mike Flanagan’s conventional horror realms. Yet, given his consistent knack for imbuing each project with emotional depth, we can expect him to handle Clayface with the same care as any other character he’s tackled. Moreover, being deeply invested in the genre where he’s made his mark, Flanagan is probably well-versed in the similarities between this project and The Substance, appreciating its nuanced approach to horror tropes that proved successful. Although Flanagan hasn’t shared much about the movie, he did express on Letterboxd that he enjoyed it.

Flanagan and DC are likely to strive for a balance, not sticking too closely to the storyline of “The Substance,” but still drawing motivation from its success. They aim to create a product that embodies the amusing possibilities of a Clayface film while maintaining a heartfelt, human-centric core. Fortunately, when it comes to handling this delicate equilibrium in horror, Mike Flanagan is undoubtedly up to the task.

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2025-02-20 01:01