Supergirl hardly delivered the results DC Studios was hoping for, earning mixed reviews before bombing at the box office with a $37.1 million domestic opening. While Peter Safran quickly came out to say the studio remains confident in its long-term plan for the DC Universe franchise, Supergirl‘s performance has raised questions about the future of the DCU. Fortunately, DC could get back on track later this year. Lanterns premieres on HBO Max in August, followed by the movie Clayface in October. The latter, an R-rated body horror film, has the potential to be a unique comic book adaptation. Many are curious to see how it will turn out, and now reactions from test screenings are circulating online.
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Take these with a grain of salt, but the X account DC Film News shared some updates from a Clayface test screening. “Word out of the room is positive,” reads one post. Another tweet confirms that the titular character will “[transform] into his iconic final form,” with the design coming off as “stunning, and grotesque, similar to the image below with an asymmetrical jaw.”:
Can Clayface End DC’s 2026 on a High Note?
Next summer’s Man of Tomorrow, James Gunn’s Superman follow-up, could be the real make-or-break moment for the DCU, as it’ll be a major summer tentpole. However, in the meantime, it’s important for DC Studios to score some wins. If Lanterns and Clayface are successful, then Supergirl will seem more like a bump in the road as opposed to a bad omen of things to come. It’s important to keep in mind that prior to Supergirl‘s release, the first three DCU projects (Creature Commandos, Superman, Peacemaker Season 2) were all well-received. One underwhelming movie, while disappointing, isn’t going to kill the entire franchise on its own.
Lanterns has proven to be polarizing during its marketing campaign, but there are reasons to be optimistic about its True Detective-inspired approach. As far as Clayface is concerned, it’s shaping up to be one of the more exciting movie releases of the fall. It represents DC’s attempt to branch out and do something different with the source material. Clayface takes inspiration from comics, but it’s a pure horror movie budgeted at just $40 million. Considering horror’s strong box office track record, there’s a very good chance Clayface turns a profit, which could open the door for DC Studios to try new things with other characters. After Supergirl, perhaps the big-budget tentpoles will be left to premier heroes like Batman and Superman, but there are ways to get creative to expand the universe in compelling ways.
Strong word of mouth would help Clayface make an impression at the box office. The character has ties to the Batman mythos, but he arguably isn’t as well known a villain as Joker and Riddler. Mixed reviews helped sink Supergirl at the box office, so if Clayface earns acclaim, its prospects will get a boost. If these test screening reactions are anything to go by (and again, fans should take them with a grain of salt), Clayface will be an intriguing horror film releasing just in time for Halloween, when audiences are on the lookout for something scary. Even though Clayface isn’t as recognizable to general moviegoers, positive reviews will help it transcend its genre and break out.
it’s also encouraging to hear that Clayface will take his final form in the film, indicating that the film is striving to be as accurate to the source material as possible. In addition to appealing to general horror fans, DC is also hoping Clayface strikes a chord with comics readers, many of whom have been waiting to see Clayface in live-action on the big screen. If critics are on board and fans like what they see, positive word of mouth could really spread, taking Clayface‘s box office to new heights. It’ll be interesting to see if Warner Bros. and DC highlight Clayface’s final form in any upcoming marketing materials or if they hide it to build anticipation for the film’s release. The former could be the direction they take, as seeing a fully transformed Clayface would make for a great money shot.
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