Washington DC, June 18: Rising Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries has landed the lead role in the much-anticipated DC Studios film Clayface, as confirmed by DC co-head James Gunn. The casting announcement was made via Gunn’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, where he praised Harries’ performance and chemistry with the creative team.
“After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries,” Gunn wrote. “Both [The Batman director] Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy, and can’t wait for you to see this film.”
The film is being produced by Matt Reeves, written by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House), and directed by James Watkins (Eden Lake). Breaking away from the traditional superhero formula, Clayface will dive into body horror territory. The plot centers on a struggling B-movie actor who consumes a mysterious substance in hopes of advancing his career—only to find his body transformed entirely into clay. The tone has been described as Death Becomes Her, but with fewer comedic elements.
Harries, known for his performances in the Apple TV+ thriller Suspicion opposite Uma Thurman, action flick Kandahar with Gerard Butler, and Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen, continues to impress with a growing resume. He has also worked alongside acting heavyweights like Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche in The Return.
Production on Clayface is scheduled to begin this fall, with a theatrical release date set for September 11, 2026.
The film is part of DC Studios’ major relaunch under James Gunn, following a series of box office disappointments including The Flash and Black Adam. With the success of Reeves’ The Batman and the upcoming releases of Superman (written and directed by Gunn) and Supergirl next year, DC is looking to reinvigorate its cinematic universe.