Of all the Batman villains that have yet to be adapted into a live-action movie, Clayface presents some of the most interesting potential for casting. The villain Clayface has been rumored to appear as the villain of Matt Reeves’ The Batman – Part II, though his monstrous appearance and impressive superpowers might make him a better fit for the DCU continuity in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. In the comics, Clayface has a variety of origins, most of which involve a failed actor whose body becomes transformed into a mutant sludge monster.
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There are several directions a live-action version of Clayface could go in. Obviously, actors experienced in motion-capture work could do wonders for the character, able to effectively provide frame data for a terrifying CGI appearance. However, other casting choices could lean into Clayface’s origins as an actor, emphasizing his ability to shapeshift into different people rather than making him a more destructive giant brute, relying more on makeup and practical effects over straight digital graphics.
10 Alan Tudyk
Could already be the DCU’s live-action Clayface
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When it comes to the DCU, it could very well be that the series has already found its Clayface in Alan Tudyk. A Juilliard-educated actor of high renown, Alan Tudyk is familiar to science fiction fans for roles in series like Firefly, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. Tudyk is also quite the accomplished voice actor, appearing in some capacity in every Disney animated film since 2012, with Frozen and Moana being two of his biggest stand-out roles.
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Reportedly, Alan Tudyk has already been cast as Clayface in the upcoming animated series Creature Commandos. Previously, DCU creative lead James Gunn has clarified that any actors from the franchise’s animated projects will carry over to play the same characters in live-action, though Alan Tudyk is already double-dipping as both Clayface and Dr. Phosphorous. Luckily, thanks to his experience playing CGI characters in films like Star Wars: Rogue One and I, Robot, Tudyk could easily move forward with the character in live-action as well.
9 Andy Serkis
The all-time greatest motion capture performer ever
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In casting any CGI character, it’s hard not to consider the legendary Andy Serkis. A highly-accomplished performer known for his CGI roles, Andy Serkis rose to fame thanks to his motion capture work and voice performance as Gollum in Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He’s also renowned for providing the body and voice of Caesar in the Planet of the Apes prequel trilogy as well, making few people on the planet more qualified to play CGI characters than Andy Serkis.
Serkis already has a role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman universe, playing the latest incarnation of Batman’s steadfast butler Alfred. However, it’s easy to see Serkis lending his motion capture talents to the DCU, where he has yet to be cast in a substantial role, as none other than the legendary Clayface. Even within the confines of The Batman – Part II, Serkis could end up “playing” Clayface should the shape-shifting villain ever find the need to impersonate one of Batman’s closest allies.
8 David Harbour
Could be great as a loud, boisterous Clayface
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Perhaps an unconventional pick, David Harbour would be a brilliant choice to represent Clayface’s amorphous mug in either Batman continuity. Harbour first became a household name with the success of Stranger Things, where he played the jaded Indiana beat cop Jim Hopper. But it’s David Harbour’s other credits that might position him as a great choice for a monstrous version of Clayface.
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Harbour demonstrated an impressive tolerance for the makeup chair in 2019’s Hellboy, a skill that would come in handy no matter what the composition of a live-action Clayface’s body would end up being. He’s also experienced with boisterous villain roles in superhero movies already, playing Red Guardian in the MCU’s Black Widow, soon returning to the cast of the upcoming film Thunderbolts*. For his marquee value, special effects experience, and proficiency with larger-than-life characters, David Harbour could be an eeriely good Clayface pick.
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7 Kenneth Branagh
A perfect fit for an actor-forward Clayface
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Shows like Harley Quinn hone in on Clayface being more than just a standard angry villain with a brutish power set, but a high-minded actor who years for fame and accolades. In this regard, it might behoove the DCU or Matt Reeves to cast a true “actor’s actor” for Clayface, someone equipped to present the sort of melodrama a classically-trained performer would exude with his tragic fate. It’s hard to think of a better choice than a man who directed and starred in a series of highly-acclaimed Shakespeare adaptations.
Enter Kenneth Branagh, an actor and director double threat with an impressive acting pedigree. Beyond his Shakespeare adaptations, Branagh’s work is quite varied, appearing in an eclectic group of films that includes Murder on the Orient Express, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Wild Wild West, and The Road to El Dorado. As a shapeshifting actor with a powerful range, Clayface could easily be represented by a face as renowned as Kenneth Branagh’s.
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6 Kelsey Grammer
A beast of an actor familiar with monstrous characters
Image via Paramount+
It might be best to find a middle ground for Clayface between a destructive physical threat and an insidious, educated actor. Casting wise, this mindset could easily land a director on Kelsey Grammer, a distinguished performer with a very particular skill set suitable for the role. Originally, Grammer’s claim to fame was his comedic talents on the long-running sitcom Cheers, in which he played the psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, later playing him again in the spin-off show Frasier.
Another Juilliard-trained actor, Kelsey Grammer’s time in musicals on the Broadway circuit would make it easy for him to channel the destructive creativity of a forlorn performer, which could make Clayface quite interesting. He’s also done bestial comic book roles before, as Dr. Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in the Fox X-Men movies. Like with Beast, Grammer could combine a fearsome external appearance with a highly-refined palette for the arts, two traits that define Clayface as a character.
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5 Brendan Fraser
A reliable star with prosthetic experience
Brendan Fraser is an underrated pick in any upcoming superhero movie cast, and could be surprisingly great as Clayface. First becoming popular as a time displaced caveman in the teen comedy Encino Man, Brendan Fraser went on to grow his career as the star of the excellent action adventure series, The Mummy trilogy. Recently, Fraser made waves in the heartfelt character study The Whale, playing a morbidly obese housebound English teacher who reconciles with his daughter.
In The Whale, Brendan Fraser not only demonstrates some incredible acting skill, but a startling tolerance for prosthetics and heavy makeup. This range and stamina could easily come in handy with a Clayface portrayal, with Fraser alternating between Basil Karlo’s acting regimen blending into a crowd and sporting a literal face made of shifting clay. Fraser has already demonstrated a penchant for nonhuman comic book characters as Robotman in HBO Max’s Doom Patrol.
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4 Bill Nighy
Renowned for playing CGI villains
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When it comes to CGI villainy, it’s hard to beat the legendary acting stylings of Bill Nighy. The distinguished British performer got his start in the Royal National Theater, making a successful break into movies with the romantic comedy Love Actually. However, Nighy is most widely-recognized today for his time as the sneering digitally rendered villain Davy Jones in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, adding a truly exemplary dose of professionalism to the slimy seafaring antagonist.
Nighy also dabbled in similarly monstrous roles, playing Viktor in the Underworld series and Rattlesnake Jake in another Gore Verbinski project, the excellent animated Western Rango. Between his skill at portraying CGI bad guys and his lauded career as a theater actor, Bill Nighy could lend a weighty presence to the otherwise simple Batman villain. In many ways, Nighy is the perfect choice for a Clayface casting.
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3 Bill Skarsgärd
Known as an intimidating villain
Like many Batman villains, Clayface could easily be seen as a sort of horror movie monster, tearing through Gotham City’s crime-ridden alleyways with wanton violence. In the efforts of imagining this, Bill Skarsgärd might be the best play for a deviously memorable Clayface portrayal. Bill Skarsgärd got his breakthrough as Pennywise the dancing clown in the recent It duology, lending an unnerving presence to the favorite form of the series’ Lovecraftian shape-shifting demon who feasts on fear.
Between The Riddler’s terrifying introduction, The Joker’s horrific scarred visage, and Oz Cobb’s reprehensible actions in The Penguin, Matt Reeves seems to want the worst for all of his unsettling Batman villains. In this regard, Bill Skarsgärd might be the perfect choice to make Clayface a genuine threat in an otherwise grounded crime-focused series. After all, it wouldn’t be Skarsgärd’s first time playing a shapeshifting killer.
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2 Tom Hardy
Could lean into his villainous side
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Tom Hardy has become a Blockbuster darling in the last ten years, especially where superhero movies are concerned. After a slew of minor appearances, Tom Hardy rose to Blockbuster acclaim as Max in the post-apocalyptic thrill ride Mad Max: Fury Road and the lead antagonist of the period revenge drama The Revenant. In the comic book movie world, Hardy has since become well known as Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.
Even more importantly than having already played a Batman villain, Tom Hardy is very well qualified for playing Clayface thanks to his time leading a superhero franchise as Venom, another amorphous comic book character. It would be fascinating to see Hardy channel the unstable personality of Eddie Brock into a more morally bankrupt personality. Proficient in stunts, CGI body doubles, and versatile character work, Tom Hardy is an obvious pick for a live-action Clayface.
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1 Mark Ruffalo
Needs a chance to show off his villainous side
At first glance, Mark Ruffalo might not seem like the best choice for a comic book villain like Clayface. However, closer inspection reveals that Ruffalo could be oddly great as the colloidal creature known to roam Gotham City. The most obvious connection is Mark Ruffalo’s most famous role, that of Bruce Banner and The Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ruffalo has worn CGI suits to represent The Hulk in addition to his performances as Bruce Banner, giving him some valuable experience piloted CGI characters.
In addition to his special effects experience, Ruffalo is also a highly-respected Broadway star, giving him an excellent background to manifest Clayface’s Thespian side. Ruffalo finally got to flex his capacity for evil recently in 2023’s Poor Things, a welcome change of pace for his filmography. With such a vile performance, and his specific acting background, Mark Ruffalo could be a lay-up for Clayface in the next Batman movie.
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Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
Release Date July 11, 2025
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Release Date June 26, 2026
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Release Date October 2, 2026
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