The DCU’s fate hinges on a $40 million gamble without Superman
After Supergirl’s soft launch, the revamped DC Universe now rides on a $40 million wild card that has nothing to do with the Man of Steel. James Gunn’s Superman scored mostly positive reviews last summer, but the next, scrappier bet could determine where the DCU goes from here.
Let's be honest: things aren't exactly peachy over at the DC Universe right now. After years of false starts and boardroom reshuffles, James Gunn took a crack at rebooting the whole lot, starting with a shiny new Superman. That one, to be fair, did all right—opened last July, critics back-slapped it pretty solidly, and it raked in $618 million across the globe. Not a record-breaker, but decent legs for a universe that desperately needed a win.
But then they handed the ball to Supergirl. And, well, it promptly fumbled. This past weekend, Supergirl basically face-planted with a domestic opening of just $38 million. Cost to make? Roughly $170 million. You don't need to be an accountant to spot that's a brutal gap. Factor in some lacklustre reviews and what you end up with is exactly what the money men call a flop—and not even a particularly surprising one, if you've checked out any history books or comic shop surveys lately. Let's just say Supergirl doesn't shift merchandise quite like Superman does.
To be fair, if they'd actually made Supergirl for, say, $100 million, we'd all be having a very different conversation right now. But they went big—probably too big. Now, thanks to that misfire, the next film up has basically got the weight of the whole franchise on its shoulders.
Enter Clayface: DC Goes Small, Hopes for Big
This brings us to Clayface—which is, by any standard, a bit of a curveball. Instead of another bombastic superhero slugfest, DC have gone for what's essentially a body horror flick. The story: Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, an actor who gets his face mangled by a gangster and decides, as you do, to literally mould himself into a monstrous shape-shifter made of clay. Gory, genre-y, and, frankly, a world away from capes swishing around Metropolis.
Here's how this one stacks up:
- Lead: Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen / Clayface
- Director: James Watkins
- Script: Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini
- Budget: £40 million (give or take)
- Release Date: 23 October 2026
Notice the budget there—it's less than a quarter of what they blew on Supergirl. Clearly, Warner Bros. are hoping this horror-tinged approach can lure in a different crowd, or at least reduce the sort of catastrophic losses we just watched play out.
What really makes this fascinating is that Clayface—if it works—could set a new template for the DC universe. Forget sprawling, wallet-draining blockbusters; maybe what the studio needs is smaller, riskier genre projects starring the odder corners of the comic book world, and only wheel out the titans when absolutely necessary. If you're wondering whether the Bat will show up: don't hold your breath. Clayface is getting the spotlight all to himself this time. Considering the stakes, it's probably best they don't muddy the waters with a surprise Bruce Wayne cameo.
If it bombs, expect panic at head office. If it doesn't—well, you might just see the DC slate packed with films you never thought they'd green-light in a million years.