James Gunn Confirms When Clayface Hits the DCU, Teases a Creature Commandos Crossover

So, DC’s film timeline just got a little more complicated—in a good way, if you like your superhero universes less linear and more twisty. James Gunn, the guy running the DCU show these days, just dropped some actually interesting info about Clayface, and, honestly, it’s a rare case of a franchise movie doing something out of chronological order.

Unraveling the DCU Timeline (Yes, Already)

Up until now, the new DC cinematic universe has been pretty straightforward—the stories just happen one after the other. If you were trying to build a spreadsheet, it was simple:

• Creature Commandos is set before the new Superman flick.
• Peacemaker season two, coming after the 2025 Superman movie.

But Clayface is breaking the chain. It's officially the first DCU movie that doesn't follow the chronological order. Gunn confirmed this on Threads, because of course he did. He did that thing where a fan guessed that yes, the Clayface you saw in Creature Commandos is the same one Tom Rhys Harries is going to play in the upcoming movie—and Gunn liked the comment. Subtle, but as close to an explicit confirmation as we ever get until the NDA expires.

The Gotham You Haven't Seen Yet

If you caught the Clayface trailer or noticed the quick Doctor Phosphorus flashback over in Creature Commandos, you already got a taste of how this Gotham looks in the DCU. Realistically, this is setting up a new version of the city that everyone's going to see a lot more of in future Batman stuff—especially with The Brave and the Bold looming on the horizon.

Also, don’t expect the usual superhero treatment: Clayface is an all-in body horror film with an R-rating, not a family-friendly or even a quirky action-comedy like Peacemaker. Gunn put a pretty fine point on it, saying:

'Clayface is not a "hybrid superhero horror film," it is a horror film.'

So if you’re looking for something Marvel or even standard DC style, you might want to recalibrate—this one’s more about melting faces than saving them.

Where Does Clayface Actually Fit?

Here’s where it gets murky. In Superman, we learned Clark Kent went public as Superman three years before that film’s events, so Clayface could slide in any time before, during, or even before Batman shows up in Gotham. Maybe it’s pre-Doctor Phosphorus from Creature Commandos. None of this is spelled out yet, and Gunn isn’t giving it away, which honestly is fine—you want some surprises when the movie hits theaters on October 23, 2026.

How the Horror Fits Into the Shared Universe

Even though this movie is going for something different—a full-on genre horror piece—it’s still plugged right into the bigger DCU. All the tie-ins and crossovers you’d expect: Same Clayface actor throughout, Gotham that will matter in Batman’s next Batman movie, and just enough connective tissue that you won’t feel like you’re watching some filler. Gunn basically summed it up by saying 'it’s very connected, but as always, the standalone story is what’s most important.'

Bottom line: Clayface is trying to have it both ways—part of the universe, but with a sharp edge and a timeline all its own. Could be refreshing, could be confusing, and I guess we’ll see which in 2026.