Clayface Director James Watkins Explains Why DC Movie Chose Matt Hagen Over Original Basil Karlo

DC Studios' upcoming Clayface movie is making a notable change to its central villain, and director James Watkins is explaining why. In a recent interview, Watkins revealed that the film will feature Matt Hagen as the shapeshifting antagonist, not the original comic book Clayface, Basil Karlo. The decision, he says, was driven by a desire to ground the character in a more relatable, human story. Hagen's traditional origin—a treasure hunter who gains shape-shifting abilities after exposure to a mysterious protoplasm—offers a tragic arc of identity loss and desperation that Watkins believes resonates more with modern audiences. Karlo, by contrast, began as a B-movie actor driven mad, a backstory the director felt was too campy for the tone he wanted. This creative pivot matters because it signals DC Studios' commitment to character-driven horror under James Gunn's new vision, potentially setting the stage for a more emotionally complex villain in the DCU. The choice could influence how other classic rogues are adapted in future projects. With Mike Flanagan attached as writer, the film aims to blend psychological terror with superhero lore, and Hagen's tragic fall may be the key to making Clayface a standout entry in the new DC slate.