With Tom Rhys’ recent casting as the protagonist in the DCU’s upcoming Clayface movie leaving fans in doubt about Alan Tudyk’s role in the universe, James Gunn has come out to address the issue on social media. Tudyk famously voiced the latest iteration of the DC villain in the Creature Commandos series, causing many to speculate that he might reprise his role for the character’s live-action outing. However, Gunn’s latest comments seem to suggest that Tudyk and Rhys will be portraying two different versions of the same character, despite both Creature Commandos and the forthcoming Clayface film existing in the same universe.
James Gunn hints Creature Commandos and Tom Rhys’ Clayface are different
During a recent discussion on social media, a fan asked Gunn if Tom Rhys’ casting as Clayface means that he would play the famous DC villain’s human form while Alan Tudyk provides the voiceover for his monster form.
The user on Threads also alluded to Gunn’s previous statement, where the filmmaker had said that the DCU will have the same actors playing a character in both live-action and animated mediums, like Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr.
Gunn responded in a cryptic way, noting, “I said we would plan on using PRIMARY actors whenever we can. I’ve also never said if the two characters are the same. (I’ve also never said they’re not).”
James Gunn’s comments did little to clear the confusion surrounding Clayface’s portrayal in the DCU. However, they seem to indicate that Tom Rhys will not replace Alan Tudyk as the shape-shifting supervillain and will instead portray a separate version of the character altogether.
DC fans are confused after James Gunn’s Clayface comment
This revelation has baffled many DC fans, with many questioning the need for recruiting two actors for the same role.
One user expressed their confusion over Gunn suggesting that there could be two different versions of Clayface, stating, “Why would there be more than one Clayface?” Meanwhile, another one echoed these sentiments by simply writing, “Respectfully, that doesn’t make any sense.”
Furthermore, a third Threads user seemed to have a clarification behind the DCU having both Tom Rhys and Alan Tudyk don the mantle of Clayface. They explained, “There already is in a lot of continuities. Clayface constantly separates himself into two versions and sometimes 2 separate people become clayface. I almost guarantee this clayface is elseworlds. But it’s way too soon so we’ll just have to wait and see. I’m hyped tho. 100%”
While James Gunn seems to have created more confusion around the depiction of Clayface in the DCU with his answers, more clarity on the topic should arrive before the Tom Rhys-led film hits theaters on September 11, 2026.
