Mike Flanagan confirms that his screenplay by the film Clayface was inspired by Batman: The Animated Series

Mike Flanagan He is a hell of director and narrator, and in the projects he works on, he is not foreign to horror or cracking. It seems that both have been cooked in his original vision for Clay.

While promoting his new film, Chuck’s lifeThe director opened on the DC project on which he once had his hands and confirmed that his version of Clay was strongly inspired by the acclaimed two parts Batman: the animated series “Feat of clay” episode.

When asked if his script was inspired by it, Flanagan told Comicbook:

“Of course it was. I mean it’s the perfect [story]. “Feat of Clay”, Ron Perlman, for me, that’s all. That two sides put me out of combat. The short answer is that it is absolutely what inspired my script.

“This is the world in which I wanted to live. Batman: the animated series when I was growing was my Batman. [Michael] Keaton was my Batman, the animated series was really my Batman. “

That emotional anchor of the animated series clearly left a mark on Flanagan. Although he is not directing the film because of other projects such as Carrie, his story could still model the final product.

Since then a new writer has jumped on the project, and it is said that it is said that he is getting a rewriting of a page one, which is a shame, if true. Flanagan continued to say:

“I don’t know what they’re doing with Clayface. I’m not directing it and that director will have to do it. I know they are working on the script.

“Now I’m going to do other things, I really hope it remains faithful to the spirit of what I wanted it to be. But it’s not my film, so I will be among the audience with you, eager to see how it comes out.”

Clay It is currently planned as a third film in James Gunn AND Peter SafranThe new DC universe, with a release date of September 2026. James Watkins (The woman in black) is attached to direct and the script is currently being reviewed by Hossein Amini (Drive, Obi-Wan Kenobi). No casting has been announced, but production should start by the end of the year.

As for “feat of clay”, tells the tragic origin of Matt Hagen, a disfigured actor who, in despair, uses an experimental chemicals called Renuyu for Shapeshift and continue working. The fact is that it creates dependence and becomes a puppet for the corrupt businessman Roland Daggett, leading to his horrible transformation into Clayface.

That plot is full of body horror and emotional despair, it seems that something that Flanagan could have thrown out of the park.

Previous reports on history suggested that Clayface would follow a washed B-Movie actor who takes a mysterious substance to remain relevant. It is not difficult to see how Flanagan could have browsed the classic Dagget/Hagen dynamic, updated for a new audience, but still rooted in themes of despair, dependence and exploitation.

I hope not all that Flanagan has delivered in his script will be deleted. With Amini’s track record and Watkins’ eye for the atmosphere, Clayface could very well be the first real study of the horror character of DC’s body. A film I show with a soul.

And while Flanagan is not behind the camera, I hope the bones of his version remain intact. Because if done well, this could be an exceptional film.