Releasing in theaters Friday, DC Studios’ feature film Clayface explores the gritty, gothic underbelly of Gotham City without Batman. Directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen alongside Naomi Ackie, the film examines the compelling question of why ordinary citizens choose to live within Gotham’s notorious city limits.
Inside Gotham’s Cinematic Worldbuilding
- Director James Watkins crafted Gotham as an overbearing, corrupt metropolis inspired by 1930s German expressionist cinema, contrasting sharply with the sunny, pastel tones of Coast City.
- DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee noted that exploring everyday residents like actors and scientists provides a fresh perspective on why people stay in Gotham despite its severe crime rates.
- The film arrives in cinemas nationwide this Friday, offering a unique character-driven look at the DC Universe's most infamous urban setting.
Why Residents Stay in Gotham City
For nearly ninety years of storytelling across comics, movies, and television, Gotham City has functioned as a character in its own right. Yet, narrative focus typically centers on law enforcement, district attorneys, or the Dark Knight himself. Clayface shifts that perspective entirely. As DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee observed, focusing on everyday citizens like actors and scientists forces audiences to confront a fundamental question: why would anyone choose to remain in such a troubled environment?
Acclaimed comic book scribe and screenwriter Paul Dini suggests that Gotham operates as a powerful metaphor for personal reinvention. Dini describes the city as a large, exciting, and heartbreaking place that ultimately satisfies those who make peace with its extremes. According to Dini, the volatile nature of Gotham provides the ultimate proving ground for both heroes and villains to reach their full potential, making it a place where legends are forged.
Contrasting Landscapes in the DC Universe
Director James Watkins utilized distinct visual languages to set apart the various locations featured in the film. While Metropolis manages white-collar crime and Coast City offers sun-drenched vistas with verdant greens, Gotham stands as a towering, oppressive urban canyon. Production designer James Price drew heavily from 1930s German expressionist cinema, ensuring that towering architectural structures dwarf individual characters and visually reinforce the pervasive corruption.
This stark geographical contrast heightens the emotional stakes for Matt Hagen, who built a glamorous life as a movie star in Coast City before confronting his roots. Actor Tom Rhys Harries described the opportunity to establish this vibrant, dark, and gothic version of Gotham as deeply energizing. Rather than mimicking real-world metropolitan hubs like New York or Los Angeles, the production leans entirely into the stylized, otherworldly atmosphere established by DC Studios leadership.
| Location | Visual Style | Primary Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Coast City | Sunny, sea, verdant greens, pastel tones | Hope, glamour, and cinematic stardom |
| Metropolis | Sleek, futuristic, orderly architecture | White-collar crime and technological wonder |
| Gotham City | Oppressive canyons, German expressionism | Gothic decay, corruption, and intense personal reinvention |
Moments of Humanity Amid the Darkness
Despite its reputation for decay—highlighted by satirical touches like a statue of Lady Justice covered in bird droppings—Clayface avoids portraying Gotham as entirely devoid of warmth. In one affecting scene, Matt Hagen engages in a casual game of pickup basketball with other locals in the Narrows, his former neighborhood. This brief sequence offers a rare visual and emotional burst of sunshine for both the character and the audience.
Harries admitted that the impromptu basketball sequence came together late in the production schedule. Having grown up in Cardiff where basketball is less common, the actor relied purely on maintaining confidence and having fun on screen. This humanizing sequence grounds the narrative, proving that beneath the overwhelming architecture and institutional corruption, genuine community life persists within Gotham’s borders.
