Not much has been shared yet about the upcomingDCUfilmClayface, but it finally has a lead actor. British actorTom Rhys Harrieshas been cast as the titular Batman villain. Although Harries is a relatively unknown actor, he impressed DC Studios chairJames Gunnenoughto post to multiple social media accounts, “Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy.”
WhileClayfacemight be the big break Tom Rhys Harries needs, he’s still built a large and wide-ranging filmography that’s had him acting alongside Matthew McConaughey, Gerard Butler, Ralph Fiennes, and more. His past work might also indicate the direction for the mysteriousClayfacefilm.
Where You’ve Seen Tom Rhy Harries Before
It seems that Gunn and company wanted a young and shining star for Clayface, as Tom Rhys Harries is pretty unrecognizable at this stage in his career.Harries’ biggest film was Guy Ritchie’sThe Gentlemen, where he played Power Noel. Power Noel was the fictional pop star who gets in trouble with drugs and captivates the heart of Laura Pressfield, to her wealthy parents' dismay. His part in the movie didn’t yield him that much screen time, but the role was certainly memorable.
The actor’s more recent work has had him working with lots of movie royalty.The Gentlemenput him alongside stars including Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, and more.In 2023, he co-starred with Gerard Butler inKandahar, a film about a CIA operative fleeing from Afghanistan. Harries also starred with Ralph Fiennes in the 2024 filmThe Return, in which Harries plays one of Penelope’s suitors, named Pisander. One of the actor’s strangest collaborations with Hollywood royalty was when he appeared in an H&M short film calledThe Secret Life of Flowers, which was directed bynone other than Baz Luhrmann. Harries also played the lead in the straight-to-home-video movieDragonheart: Battle for the Heartfire, which had the actor teaming up with a dragon voiced by Patrick Stewart.
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Harries is British, so many of his credits have been in British-led productions.He appeared in the 2018 horror-comedySlaughterhouse Rulezalongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, in which Harries plays the stern senior student Clegg. He also had a guest role in one of the more popular episodes of the Disney+Doctor Whoera, titled “Dot and Bubble.” The episode is similar toBlack Mirror, with residents becoming obsessed with social media, and Tom Rhys Harries plays one of the top influencers, Ricky September. As a British actor, it’s only natural that he also appears in an episode of the long-running mystery show,Midsomer Murders. He shows up in the episode “A Vintage Murder,” which sets the crime at a local vineyard.
Recently, Harries has found success with streaming shows. He played the subject of a mystery in the 2020 Netflix seriesWhite Lines. Harries played DJ Axel Collins in the show, who died in Ibiza, causing his sister to investigate how he really died.Harries also shows up in six episodes of the 2022 Apple TV+ seriesSuspicion, alongside Uma Thurman and Kunal Nayyar. Harries plays Eddie Walker, a mysterious man who’s suspected of kidnapping a prominent woman’s son.
What Tom Rhys Harries' Casting Indicates About ‘Clayface’
Clayface has had many iterations throughout comic history, making it difficult to predict the direction of theClayfacefilm. The character hasn’t appeared in any live-action films yet.He’s mostly been relegated to television, especially inanimated series likeHarley Quinn, in which he was more of a comedic character. He was briefly seen in live-action with the TV seriesGotham, where he had a stretchy body that allowed him to impersonate other characters, which could easily be reused in the upcomingClayfacefilm.
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The choice of Tom Rhys Harries as Clayface indicates that the movie is highlighting some of the character’s earlier roots in the comics. Casting an actor who isn’t quite a bankable A-list star falls right in line with this. However, it’s unclear if the film will also embrace more campy depictions of the character. On the one hand, a shapeshifting clay monster seems too absurd for the kind of gritty film that would be made by people like Matt Reeves and Mike Flanagan.
On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine that the film could be interesting if it’s focused on a watered-down version of a lesser-known Batman villain. Clayface would have struggled to remain part of Batman’s rogues gallery for so long if it weren’t for his iconic muddy appearance.If theClayfacemovie strays too far from that, it might struggle to find an audience.
Still, the success ofThe Penguinproves that a darkClayfacemovie could work. Showing a focus on the character’s acting is certainly a fresh approach. As long as it doesn’tgo in a direction like Sony’sKraven the Hunter, it should be fine.Clayfaceis slated to release on August 07, 2025.
