"We have footage": Tom Rhys Harries teases major Batman footage in Clayface

Clayface star Tom Rhys Harries has dropped a tease about whether Batman will appear in the upcoming DCU horror film.

In an interview with ComicBook, Tom Rhys Harries, who plays Matt Hagen, and Naomi Ackie, who plays Caitlyn Corr, were asked whether there had been any discussions about how much Matt Hagen and Caitlyn Corr know about Batman's presence in Gotham, even though Clayface is not a Batman story. Answering the question, Harries said:

"We have footage. And I don’t know how much I can say. But yes, we had discussions about that at length."

His comment seems to hint at a possible connection between Batman and Clayface. However, he did not confirm whether Batman will actually appear in the film or if the movie will simply acknowledge his presence in Gotham.

Tom Rhys Harries drops a hint about Batman in Clayface

Speaking of Batman's presence in Gotham, Tom Rhys Harries, who plays Matt Hagen in the upcoming DC movie, told ComicBook that "we have footage," adding that he wasn't sure how much he could say about it. He also mentioned that they had discussed Batman's presence in the movie at length. According to Harries, Gotham has a lot to offer, and Batman's villains are interesting characters with their own stories and deep personalities.

He further compared Gotham to New York, adding that just as different people and their stories exist in New York, the same can happen in Gotham. This means that other characters can have their own stories and go through their own experiences while Batman continues to exist in the same universe.

While Harries mentioned that they have footage, he did not explain what it shows or how Batman connects to Matt Hagen's story. His comment hints at Batman's possible presence in Clayface, but he did not confirm whether Batman will actually appear in the film or what role he might have, or if it's simply a brief glimpse of him, like a silhouette or news footage. For now, fans will have to wait for the movie's release to find out what the footage actually shows.

Earlier, James Watkins, the director of the movie, and Rhys Harries also had an interview with SFX Magazine, where Watkins revealed how Clayface approaches Gotham's atmosphere through the statement:

"You're in a city called Gotham. So I guess you feel the shadow of Batman inherently, because of the nature of where you are."

Watkins also explained that he and production designer James Price took inspiration from noir films and German Expressionism to shape Gotham's look, with tall buildings that seem to tower over people. He also worked with cinematographer Rob Hardy on the film's lighting, using dirty orange lights, neon signs, and their reflections to create the correct atmosphere.

If Batman does appear in the movie, it could connect the movie to Batman's story in the DCU. However, Harries' comments are only a tease, and Batman's appearance in the film has not been confirmed.

Clayface is an R-rated horror movie set in James Gunn's DCU. It focuses on Matt Hagen's transformation into Clayface rather than telling a typical Batman story. Directed by James Watkins, famous for Eden Lake and Speak No Evil, the movie stars Tom Rhys Harries, Ruby Sear, Naomi Ackie, Max Minghella, and Eddie Marsan. The movie is scheduled to release on October 23 in the United States.