DCU Fans Speculate if Clayface is Batman Movie’s Main Villain
James Gunn and Andy Muschietti sparked a major DCU theory after new Clayface Easter eggs reignited speculation about Batman’s next villain. The DCU’s creative head and the It: Welcome to Derry filmmaker became central to the debate. Fans are now speculating whether Clayface could appear in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
Clayface easter eggs make people think he’s DCU’s Batman movie villain
James Gunn and Andy Muschietti sparked speculation about Clayface’s possible connection to Batman: The Brave and the Bold after several DCU Easter eggs appeared. The discussion began when Muschietti added a shot of Detective Comics #298, Clayface’s first appearance, in the opening episode of It: Welcome to Derry. Soon after, Gunn shared the same comic on social media to mark the villain’s anniversary. He wrote, “Happy Anniversary to the perennially misunderstood villain, Clayface. Can’t wait for you to see Tom Rhys Harries bring him to life on the big screen.”
Harries later shared the same image to announce that filming had entered its final week on the upcoming Clayface movie. The film tells the story of Matt Hagen, a disfigured actor who seeks an experimental treatment after a gangster attack. Set for a 2026 release, it presents a dark origin story inspired by Batman: The Animated Series. With both Gunn and Muschietti involved in major DCU projects, fans began connecting the clues and speculated that Clayface might serve as the main antagonist in The Brave and the Bold.
However, several DCU fans dismissed the theory on Reddit and X, noting that the recurring comic reference likely celebrates Clayface’s milestone rather than hinting at Batman’s next villain. One fan pointed out that it appeared several times because it was the only comic to feature Hagen as the main Clayface. They wrote, “The reasons it’s been used multiple times is because it’s the only comic that has Matt Hagen as the main Clayface.” Another advised audiences to expect a self-contained story rather than a crossover, writing, “Everyone should go into this expecting a relatively self contained story.”
Others argued that the DCU setting could quietly expand Gotham’s lore for future films. One fan noted, “I feel like there has to be a greater purpose to this film…Even if there is no Batman reference, I’d be shocked if it didn’t do a lot to establish Gotham lore for the DCU.”
Clayface will release in 2026, with Tom Rhys Harries featuring as Hagen.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on SuperHeroHype.
Source: Comingsoon.net