It's been reported that DC Studios will keep Matt Hagen's monstrous transformation under wraps until Clayface arrives in theaters. The latest sneak peek showed us a glimpse of that, but have these DC Comics variant covers revealed an early look at what's to come?
While they certainly offer an idea of what Hagen will go through as he gets closer to the comic-accurate monster first introduced in Creature Commandos, both seem to stop short of showing us the "final" design.
However, it seems we're in store for a truly horrific sight as the actor loses his good looks and becomes Gotham City's resident shape-shifting grotesquerie.
The first of these covers goes on sale on October 14, and is illustrated by Brian Bolland for Batman & Robin: Year One #3. The second follows on October 21, and will serve as the cover for Detective Comics #1114 by Björn Barends.
The Batman Part II director Matt Reeves produces Clayface, despite it being set in the DCU. Addressing his involvement with the project, the filmmaker recently told Entertainment Weekly:
"I’m drawn to the more grounded DC Comic characters, and coming off The Batman wanted to expand that interest to other characters and stories. Clayface presented a unique opportunity to dive into an origin story within a specific genre — it’s a tragic character journey wrapped in terrifying body horror."
"Matt Hagen’s meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured," reveals the recently released synopsis for Clayface.
"Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting-edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self," it continues, "but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiralling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge."
The movie stars Tom Rhys Harries in the title role of the cult-favourite villain from Gotham's rogues' gallery. The cast includes Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan, as well as Nancy Carroll and Joshua James.
James Watkins directs from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with Flanagan also getting a "Story by" credit. Clayface is produced by Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn and Peter Safran, with Michael E. Uslan, Chantal Nong Vo, Lars P. Winther, Rafi Crohn and Paul Ritchie executive producing.
Watkins' creative team includes director of photography Rob Hardy, production designer James Price, editor Jon Harris and costume designer Keith Madden. Volker Bertelmann (Conclave) is the movie's composer.
Clayface will be released in theaters on October 23.