By Charles Pulliam-Moore, a renowned reporter with a focus on film, TV, and pop culture. With a background at io9 and Gizmodo for nearly five years, he now brings his expertise to The Verge.

DC Comics' Clayface: A Character on the Move

The DC Comics character Clayface has been making significant waves on Max's Harley Quinn series. Alan Tudyk's voice brings this shape-shifting villain to life. However, it seems that his next big adventure will be on the big screen.Variety has reported that The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan has signed on to write a new Clayface feature for DC Studios. This project will be produced by Matt Reeves and Lynn Harris' company 6th & Idaho. Currently, no details have been revealed about the director, but Warner Bros. Discovery aims to start filming next year.This move by WBD to fast-track a movie about one of Batman's more unique rogues initially may seem odd. But when considering James Gunn's plan to build a new cinematic universe at DC Studios, it makes perfect sense. Gunn explained last year that DC Studios will have characters moving between animation and live-action, often with the same actor voicing them in both.We've already seen this concept in Creature Commandos where Viola Davis reprised her role as Amanda Waller and Frank Grillo voiced Rick Flagg Sr. ahead of portraying the same role in Peacemaker's upcoming second season. Although Clayface hasn't appeared in Creature Commandos yet, he is set to become a part of the show this season. Since Tudyk also voices Creature Commandos' Doctor Phosphorous and Will Magnus, it remains unclear whether WBD intends for him to play Clayface in the new feature. However, given the nature of Creature Commandos as a show designed to cycle through DC's weirder characters, this might not be a major issue.Clayface's presence in both the animated and live-action realms adds an exciting dimension to DC's cinematic universe. It shows the studio's commitment to exploring different aspects of its characters and storylines. With Flanagan at the helm of the new feature, fans can expect a unique and captivating take on this iconic villain. The potential for cross-media storytelling and character development is immense, and it will be fascinating to see how Clayface's story unfolds in the coming years.The decision to bring Clayface to the big screen is a bold one that aligns with Gunn's vision for DC. It allows the studio to expand its universe and introduce new audiences to this complex and fascinating character. As we await more details about the project, the excitement builds for what's to come in the world of DC Studios.