James Gunn has clarified stories suggesting Mike Flanagan’s Clayface script could be getting a comprehensive rewrite.
Here’s another update on DC Studios’ Clayface project, which is currently in active development as it moves towards production.
James Watkins, director of last year’s English language remake of Speak No Evil director is helming the project, while the script was penned by horror auteur Mike Flanagan.
Originally, Flanagan was going to direct himself before clashing schedules put paid to that. Watkins duly picked up the reins.
News then broke that Drive writer Hossein Amini is now reportedly doing a rewrite with some rumours suggesting it was a page one overhaul for Clayface. James Gunn, boss of the DCU has once again been responding to fans online and addressed that story, stating that Flanagan’s script will remain almost completely intact.
He even sounded a little surprised to find that there was speculation to the contrary, writing: “Huh? It’s all Mike’s story. That’s WHY we’re making this movie, because we loved it. Any changes as the shooting script is finalised are minor.”
James Gunn has also talked a little about the project on the DC Studios Showcase podcast (thanks, Dark Horizons) and opened up a little more about the tone of the project and it sounds promising for those hoping that the story will retain some formidable elements of horror:
“I mean, it’s not anything now, because the MPA has to watch it … But it’s most likely rated R. It’s pretty intense. Clayface was not on our [initial] checklist. But Mike [Flanagan] came in with a pitch for Clayface that was like ‘whoa, that is so cool.’ Then he wrote the screenplay and fulfilled doubly on that promise. The thing about Clayface that’s so cool is that Peter [Safran] and I, back when we were producing horror movies… I’m like, ‘If we had gotten the script as a horror movie, not being part of the DCU at all. It’s like this amazing body horror film that we would jump at the chance to make.”
As an admired horror auteur, it’s still a shame that Flanagan won’t get the chance to steer the project through production but at least it seems like his story will still be the one that makes it onto cinema screens, whenever the film does arrive.
Flanagan talked a little about this process earlier this month, saying: “I don’t know what they’re doing with Clayface, I’m not directing it, and that filmmaker will need to make it their own. I know that they’re doing work on the script. I’m off doing other things now, I really hope it remains true to the spirit of what I wanted it to be. But it’s not my movie, so I’ll be in the audience with you, anxious to see how it comes out.”
We’ll bring you more on Clayface as we hear it.
