Clayface ‘s director has revealed why Batman doesn’t appear
James Watkins has also addressed the lack of a post-credits scene
The new DC Universe movie is out now in theaters worldwide
Full spoilers follow for Clayface . Clayface director James Watkins has explained why Batman doesn’t appear — despite confirmation that the Caped Crusader is already active in Gotham City when the film takes place. Prior to the movie’s late October release, DC Studios co-head Peter Safran confirmed to Collider that the Dark Knight is already fighting crime during the events of Clayface . Despite this, the new DC Universe ( DCU ) film doesn’t feature a cameo from Bruce Wayne’s alter ego. On the surface, the decision not to include Batman makes sense, because nobody has been cast as the DCU’s iteration of the iconic DC superhero yet. Myriad actors have been linked with the role, but Safran and his studio co-chief James Gunn have repeatedly denied that someone has been picked to play him. Batman made his DCU debut, albeit via a very brief cameo, in Creature Commandos season 1 (Image credit: Max/DC Studios) Even so, a precedent has already been set for Batman appearing in the DCU. Indeed, the World’s Greatest Detective showed up — albeit in silhouetted form — in season 1 episode 7 of Creature Commandos , i. e. the adult animated show that kickstarted the DCU when it premiered on HBO Max in late 2024. So, why is the crime-fighting vigilante conspicuous by his absence in a movie that tells the origin story of one of his most formidable foes? "If you look at [the 2019 Joaquin Phoenix-starring movie] Joker , it’s one man’s story in the world of Gotham, which is a city of many million people," Watkins told me as part of an exclusive chat ahead of the DCU Chapter One flick’s launch…