Naomi Ackie could be the next major name to join the DC Universe, as the Mickey 17 and Blink Twice star is reportedly in early talks for a key role in the upcoming Clayface film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 32-year-old actress recently took part in reading sessions in the UK and has quickly become a top contender for the project, with formal negotiations expected to kick off this week.
Directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil) and written by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House), Clayface is described as a body horror thriller that will reimagine the classic Batman villain in a stripped-down, terrifying format. British actor Tom Rhys Harries is already on board to play the titular character.
The film draws inspiration from David Cronenberg’s 1986 horror classic The Fly, and tells the story of a struggling B-movie actor whose face is horribly disfigured by a gangster. In desperation, he turns to an experimental treatment that initially seems to work — but soon spirals into horror as he transforms into the monstrous Clayface.
With a modest $40 million budget, Clayface will begin filming later this year at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios in the UK, aiming for a September 2026 release.
The project is part of DC Studios’ new direction under James Gunn, who has emphasized variety in tone and genre across the rebooted DCU. Gunn told CBS Mornings,
“We’ve got Clayface, which is a totally different thing. Although it’s in the same universe, it’s a complete horror film… each artist brings their own sense to it.”
Meanwhile, fans of the Batman mythos are also awaiting The Batman Part II from Matt Reeves, which Gunn confirmed has a completed script — teasing that it’s “great” at the recent Superman premiere.
If cast, Naomi Ackie would add serious star power to Clayface, and her involvement signals DC’s commitment to delivering character-driven, genre-bending storytelling in its new cinematic era.
