DC Comics
The choice to have Clayface practical makeup was never even a consideration for James Gunn.
Appearing on The Morning After Pod, Gunn was asked about the Clayface set photos that have popped up online, and he confirmed that they don’t bother him, but that led to a more interesting tidbit. He confirmed that due to the numerous outside scenes, there were discussions about whether or not the injury scars should be done with CGI to keep them from being photographed.
Gunn explained, “You know, we knew we were shooting outside. We knew there would be some photos that would get out and we knew there was some makeup and stuff involved and they’re like, “Oh, should we not put any of the makeup on and then just do it with visual effects and post?” And I’m like, what are you talking about? I mean, is it going to make $1 less at the box office?” Gunn went on to add, “You know, first of all, if some photos leak, and then secondly, like I you want to spend, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars on VFX when it’s going to look better if it’s practical because there’s a lot of amazing practical effects in Clayface.”
There has been some significant shifts in the film industry of moving back to more practical effects due to the rising costs of CGI. As effects houses have gotten exponentially busier, the costs have gone up, more delays have happened, and tighter schedules have led to worse end results. While practical may take a bit more time on the day, a lot of filmmakers are now finding it to actually be cheaper and more expedient to go in that direction.
The untitled Clayface movie is scheduled to hit theaters on Sept. 11, 2026.
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