Welsh Actor Tom Rhys Harries Lands Coveted Clayface Role for DC
LOS ANGELES — In a bold casting move that’s electrified the comic book film world, relatively unknown Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries has beaten out Hollywood heavyweights to become DC’s shape-shifting villain Clayface. The announcement came straight from DC Studios co-chief James Gunn, who revealed the 31-year-old stage-trained performer will headline the upcoming standalone film directed by British thriller maestro James Watkins.
Harries’ casting culminates a fiercely competitive search that pitted him against established names like Hunger Games star Tom Blyth and *1917* lead George MacKay. According to insiders, Harries’ audition left Gunn and The Batman director Matt Reeves “visibly stunned” with his raw portrayal of a fading actor’s descent into monstrous transformation. “This guy channeled tragedy and menace in equal measure,” a source close to the production shared. “When he finished the final read, the room just went silent.”
The Man Behind the Mud
Though American audiences may recognize Harries from Apple TV+’s Suspicion or Gerard Butler’s Kandahar, the Carmarthenshire-born actor has quietly built a reputation in gritty indie films and prestigious theater. His breakthrough came opposite Ben Whishaw in the West End’s Mojo, followed by emotionally charged performances in the Ralph Fiennes drama The Return. Colleagues describe him as “fearless” – a quality that will be tested when he transforms into one of Batman’s most tragic foes.
A Horror-Infused Origin Story
Directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake), Clayface reimagines the classic villain as Basil Karlo – a desperate B-movie actor who ingests an experimental substance to save his dying career. The drug grants him shape-shifting abilities but corrodes his humanity, turning his body into living clay. Insiders describe the script – initially penned by horror visionary Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass) and refined by Oscar nominee Hossein Amini (Drive) – as “a Black Swan-meets-The Fly tragedy” exploring fame’s corrosive toll.
Why This Clayface Stands Apart
Unlike previous DC projects:
- The film exists outside Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, allowing creative freedom
- Watkins plans practical effects blended with CGI to showcase Harries’ physical performance
- Tone leans into psychological horror rather than superhero action
“Clayface isn’t a villain – he’s a cautionary tale,” Gunn emphasized on social media. “This is about identity, addiction, and the monsters we become chasing validation.”
DC’s Bold New Direction
Scheduled to begin filming this fall at Warner Bros.’ Leavesden Studios outside London, Clayface (targeting September 2026) represents DC Studios’ commitment to standalone, director-driven projects following July’s Superman reboot. By casting an unknown in a risky R-rated vehicle, Gunn and co-CEO Peter Safran signal a dramatic departure from Marvel’s formula. “We’re not building a universe,” an insider notes. “We’re building an anthology where each film has its own voice.”
For Harries – who learned of his casting while hiking in Wales – the role is a surreal full-circle moment. “Ten years ago I was doing Shakespeare in a 100-seat theater,” he told colleagues. “Now I get to melt on camera.” As Watkins’ cameras prepare to capture that metamorphosis, Hollywood watches to see if clay can indeed become gold.