Naomi Ackie may be heading to the DC Universe.
The I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Sorry, Baby actress is in early talks to co-lead Clayface, the upcoming horror-tinged thriller from DC Studios. She would star opposite rising Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries, who is set to play the titular shape-shifting villain in the film.
Directed by Speak No Evil’s James Watkins, Clayface is one of the more unexpected entries in DC’s new cinematic slate under co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran. The project is being fast-tracked for a September 11, 2026 release and is seen internally as part of DC’s broader strategy to diversify its storytelling through genre exploration and mid-budget features. The production is slated to shoot at Warner Bros’ Leavesden Studios in the UK.
A Body Horror Take on a Batman Villain
The film reimagines the classic Batman villain through the lens of body horror. Originally introduced in Detective Comics #40 in 1940, Clayface has long been portrayed as a disfigured actor who gains the ability to morph into anyone. In this iteration, the story follows an ambitious performer whose face is mangled by a gangster. In desperation, he turns to a fringe, Elizabeth Holmes-style scientist for help—only for the experiment to go horrifyingly wrong.
Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House) penned the original draft of the script, with Oscar-nominated writer Hossein Amini (Drive) handling rewrites. The film is said to take structural and thematic inspiration from David Cronenberg’s The Fly, promising a tragic, grotesque, and emotionally complex narrative.
Ackie’s Role and Rising Profile
Ackie, who is London-born, would portray the film’s female lead. While specific details about her character remain under wraps, sources say she emerged as the top pick following recent table reads in England. Formal negotiations are expected to begin this week.
Ackie’s recent credits include Blink Twice, the directorial debut from Zoë Kravitz, and Mickey 17 from Bong Joon Ho. She also starred as pop icon Whitney Houston in the 2022 biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and recently wowed festival audiences in Eva Victor’s Sorry, Baby, now in theaters via A24. She’ll next appear in Netflix’s The Thursday Murder Club, alongside Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Ben Kingsley.
Behind the Scenes
Clayface will be produced by Matt Reeves (The Batman), Lynn Harris, and DC Studios heads Gunn and Safran. Chantal Nong will serve as executive producer.
With Superman in theaters now and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow set to premiere in June 2026, Clayface marks the third DC Studios film in the rebooted DCU. Unlike its superhero counterparts, Clayface ventures into horror territory, showing DC’s commitment to bold, genre-bending storytelling.
We’ll continue to follow developments as casting finalizes and production gears up.