DC Studios isn’t worried about Clayface not meeting their box office expectations. The next movie in the DCU’s ten-year slate is Clayface, set for release after Supergirl, which did not meet expected box office numbers.
Why isn’t DC worried about Clayface’s box office numbers?
Clayface is slated to hit theaters this October, but DC co-CEO Peter Safran isn’t worried about the box office numbers ahead of its theatrical release.
In an interview after Supergirl’s premiere, he stated, “Obviously, you saw it this weekend, not everything’s gonna work, but we don’t judge the success of our 10-year plan based on any individual project along the way. It’s more about expanding the tonal range of the DC universe.”
Safran added, “It leans into horror and psychological thriller in a way that definitely differentiates it from more traditional superhero entries, while still being anchored in what I would say is a recognizable character.”
Further, he stated that horror remains “one of the most reliable and popular genres with moviegoers,” after the success of movies like Sinners, Obsession, and Backrooms (via Entertainment Weekly).
The upcoming movie is being marketed as an R-rated psychological thriller. The story is about Matt Hagen, who is a rising star in Gotham. After having his face carved up in wrathful retribution, the character visits Dr. Caitlyn Corr to fix his face with a magical serum. However, the instant gratification of the surgery goes wrong as he transforms into the monstrous Clayface.
Safran stated, “We meet Matt at a real turning point in his career and then, very quickly, at a real turning point in his life. It’s a horror, but it’s a thriller. It asks, ‘How far would you go to reclaim your life that you’ve built?'”
Supergirl‘s box office accumulated a total of $117 million over a reported $170 million production budget. Clayface is created on a reported budget of $40 million.
James Watkins helms Clayface from a story by Mike Flanagan, who wrote the screenplay with Hossein Amini. It stars Tom Rhys Harries, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, David Dencik, and Eddie Marsan.
Clayface will be released in theaters on October 23, 2026.
Originally reported by Christie D’Silva on SuperHeroHype.
