Spoiler Alert !!!
Minor Spoilers For Clayface (2026)
Clayfacehad a major cameo from Aaron Paul that was quite integral to the character of Tom Rhys Harries’ Matt Hagen. However, with the success and love that the DCU body-horror film has received, director James Watkins opened up about his thoughts on a sequel to the 2026 movie.
During his talks with Variety, the director revealed that he considered (and directed) Clayfaceas a standalone movie. As for whether the character will fight Robert Pattinson’s Batman or another DC hero, Watkins left the question for James Gunn to answer.
That’s a question for James Gunn. I liked the standalone nature of it. I liked how it felt like it introduced a character. But I wasn’t trying to introduce the character to go, ‘OK, what next?’ I was trying to introduce the character as a full meal in itself.
As for the other unanswered question, James Watkins talked about thatparticular cameo, which largely went unnoticed by fans for quite a while.
Aaron Paul Had a Much Bigger Role in Clayface
Yes. That was Aaron Paul in a cameo role in Clayface. Portraying the role of Jimmy Hagen, the father of lead character Matt Hagen, Aaron Paul’s cameo was kept brief when Matt Hagen skinshifts into his father.
However, Watkins revealed in an earlier interview with Entertainment Weekly that Paul had a much bigger role as Jimmy Hagen in the movie.
In terms of trying to figure out the character, it was: How much is Matt defined by his past, and how much is he an everyman? At one point, we were looking at it and thinking, Is it the ‘sins of the father’?
However, as the director continued to work on Mike Flanagan’s script, it became clearer that he wanted Matt Hagen to focus on revenge against the people who thought him a monster rather than go down a complicated path of father issues.
Many of the scenes of Aaron Paul as Jimmy Hagen were left on the editing floor, and instead, the character was shortened to a mere cameo to highlight that Matt Hagen was affected by his past as much as his present.
Why ClayfaceShould Remain a DCU Standalone Movie
As if the director’s words weren’t enough, we also believe that Clayfaceshould remain a standalone movie in the DCU. The end of Clayfacesaw Matt Hagen being crowned a monster by Gotham City, something he had feared the most.
There is no form of redemption for Matt Hagen because he wasn’t a villain (or a monster). A sequel would further deepen the character of Matt Hagen, but it seems that the 2026 movie has delivered a complete story in itself, much like what James Watkins stated.
However, that doesn’t mean that we wouldn’t want to see the character of Matt Hagen again. On the contrary, Clayface should be seen on the big screen along with a newer villain in the DCU in a team-up movie. The final decision rests with James Gunn, but DC movies haven’t really known to get ‘sequels’ since the 2010s. And the ones that did… aren’t so great (Wonder Woman 1984, Joker: Folie à Deux, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom).
But what do you think? Should Clayfacereceive a standalone sequel in the DCU? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Clayfaceis currently screening in theaters.
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