DC Studios' 'Clayface' Premieres to Buzz
The R-rated villain film, produced by DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, debuted in Los Angeles.
DC Studios' new R-rated villain film, "Clayface," premiered Tuesday night at the Hollywood Legion Theater, generating significant buzz online and drawing industry attention. The $40 million production marks a notable release for the studio, particularly following a less successful summer offering.
![Peter Safran, James Watkins, and James Gunn pose together at the world premiere of "Clayface."]( "Peter Safran, James Watkins, and James Gunn pose together at the world premiere of "Clayface."" )
The film, set in Gotham City and directed by James Watkins, is the first to premiere following the recent merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. While Paramount's "Street Fighter" will be the first official post-merger release, "Clayface" is being closely watched. Executives from the legacy Paramount team, including co-chiefs Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, as well as marketing head Josh Goldstine, were present at the premiere. DC Studios co-heads Peter Safran and Chantal Nong also attended. James Gunn, who recently finished production on the "Superman" sequel, made an appearance but left early due to a headache.
Skydance CEO David Ellison reportedly screened the film the day before its premiere and responded positively, according to sources involved with the production.
"Clayface" is positioned as a potential fall hit for DC Studios, aiming to emulate the success of films like "Joker," which achieved over a billion dollars at the box office despite a budget under $100 million. Executive producer Michael Uslan highlighted the studio's approach to villain-centric movies, suggesting they can push boundaries due to a lack of strict continuity constraints, a strategy he believes differs from Marvel's approach.
The film stars Tom Rhys Harries as the titular character, with Naomi Ackie portraying the scientist responsible for his creation. The movie's R-rating and psychological-horror elements are intended to offer a distinct viewing experience. Some attendees noted the audience's enthusiastic reaction to scenes featuring Rhys Harries.