Los Angeles, July 23 (UNI) British actress Naomi Ackie, celebrated for her dynamic performance in ‘Mickey 17’ and ‘Blink Twice’, is reportedly in early discussions to join the cast of “Clayface”, a forthcoming DCU feature with Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries set to essay the role of the eponymous villain.
The film is directed by James Watkins, the visionary behind “Speak No Evil”.
According to industry insiders, a series of script readings were held in English last week, following which Ackie emerged as the frontrunner for a key role. Formal negotiations are expected to begin shortly, reports The Hollywood Reporter
“Clayface”, penned by horror auteur Mike Flanagan, reimagines the classic Batman antagonist in the vein of David Cronenberg’s cult 1986 film “The Fly”.
The project is described as having shades and structure of “The Fly”, David Cronenberg’s 1986 that starred Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis and centered on the tragic relationship between a scientist who becomes fused with the DNA of a fly and the journalist writing about his discovery.
Clayface, which sources have said will have a budget in the mid-$40 million range, centres on an ascending actor whose face is disfigured by a gangster. As a last resort, the actor turns to a fringe Elizabeth Holmes-style scientist for help.
“Clayface” is scheduled for release on September 11, 2026, marking an early and unexpected entry in the newly recalibrated DC Universe under the stewardship of James Gunn and Peter Safran. “The Batman” director Matt Reeves will produce, along with Lynn Harris, Gunn and Safran.
Ackie portrayed pop icon Whitney Houston in the 2022 biopic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and also starred opposite Channing Tatum in last year’s horror thriller “Blink Twice”. The English actress is currently in theatres with “Sorry”, “Baby”, the festival hit that A24 scooped up out of Sundance. Her upcoming credits include Netflix mystery movie “The Thursday Murder Club” that stars Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan, as well as the Boots Riley movie “I Love Boosters”.
