- Primary Subject: Clayface DCU timeline placement
- Key Update: DC Studios producer Peter Safran revealed where the upcoming Clayface film takes place in the DCU timeline.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 22, 2026
- Quick Answer: The upcoming Clayface movie takes place before Creature Commandos in the DCU timeline, following the same version of Matt Hagen before his animated appearance.
The official placement of Clayface in the DCU timeline has finally been revealed ahead of its theatrical release later this year.
The upcoming horror film will officially introduce the titular fan-favorite villain into the DCU fold. Unlike Superman and Supergirl, it will also have a smaller scale, and fans are curious to see what they have in store for this corner of the universe.
There are also questions about what part of the DCU timeline the film will take place in. Now, we have the answer.
When Does Clayface Take Place in the DCU Timeline?
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Clayface producer and DC Studios co-chairman Peter Safran confirmed that the upcoming film will take place before the events of Creature Commandos.
Not only that, he confirmed that the Clayface that we saw in the animated series is the same one that we will see in the upcoming film. "Yes, it is the same Clayface," he said.
Aside from introducing the titular character, Clayface will also mark the debut of Gotham City in the DCU, albeit without the presence of the Caped Crusader.
"James [Gunn] and I wanted to create a Gotham that had a certain impressiveness and corruption to it and dirt to it, but also wasn’t murky. I like to have some color in the film and in the universe," director James Watkins said.
While the film takes place in Gotham City, don't expect any appearances of other characters in the Batman lore, as the film will solely focus on the journey of Matt Hagen.
"The story is Clayface’s story, it’s Matt Hagen’s story. If you just took one person within the world of Gotham and followed their story, it’s about following the integrity of that," Watkins explained.
"You don’t necessarily bump into any of these people…It’s just one big city. I can see why people worry about these things, but that’s not my job. My job is to worry about, 'Is this story honest to itself?' and not try to think of ways to be cute, I suppose."
What Is Clayface About?
DC Studios' Clayface will unravel one man’s horrifying descent from rising Hollywood star to revenge-filled monster in a story that explores the loss of one’s identity and humanity, corrosive love, and the dark underbelly of scientific ambition.
The cast includes Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll, and Joshua James. James Watkins directed the film, while Mike Flanagan co-wrote the screenplay with Hossein Amini.
The DCU film is slated for release in theaters on October 23, 2026. James Gunn, Peter Safran, and Matt Reeves are involved as producers.
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