Warner Bros. has shifted the release of Clayface, the third film in the new DC Universe lineup, from September to October 23, 2026. The move gives the horror-driven comic adaptation the coveted pre-Halloween weekend, a slot the studio believes could generate stronger box office results.
Originally planned for September 11, the film traded places with Practical Magic 2, which now takes that earlier date. The sequel will bring back Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in their roles from the 1998 hit. Warner Bros. previously reserved the October date for M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks’ romantic thriller Remain, but that project has been delayed to February 2027.
Clayface centers on Matt Hagen, the second incarnation of the classic Batman villain. The film will merge that version with the tragic origin of actor Basil Karlo, whose body turns into a living clay form. Tom Rhys Harries stars, with James Watkins directing from a screenplay by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. Flanagan, known for Doctor Sleep, developed the story pitch before joining as co-writer. James Gunn and Peter Safran are producing as part of the studio’s ongoing DCU rebuild.
The character first appeared in live action through the animated series Creature Commandos. Analysts see Clayface as a test for DC’s darker tone revival, positioning horror and tragedy alongside superhero spectacle. The film’s new date also gives Warner Bros. a potential scheduling window for Lanterns, which could claim a late summer release without overlapping with Clayface.
When it arrives, Clayface will face stiff competition. Travis Knight’s Laika production Wildwood opens the same weekend, featuring a voice cast that includes Jacob Tremblay, Mahershala Ali, and Angela Bassett. Guy Ritchie’s Wife & Dog, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rosamund Pike, is also set for October 23. Few studios plan to debut major titles the following weekend, likely anticipating that Halloween will dominate moviegoers’ attention.
Had Warner Bros. kept the early September release, Clayface would have followed the studio’s successful horror streak with It, It: Chapter Two, and The Conjuring: Last Rites. Instead, it now stands as the flagship genre event of the Halloween season, which may indicate the studio is VERY confident it will make a fine addition to the genre this Halloween season.
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