Brief
DC Studios unveils Clayface premiere and outlines slate under new Skydance chief
James Gunn and Peter Safran discussed the studio’s future plans at the Clayface world premiere, the first DC film released under David Ellison’s leadership.
By Felo News Desk · Published
DC Studios premiered the villain‑origin film Clayface at the Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, and used the event to detail its upcoming slate under new Skydance boss David Ellison, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What happened
The red‑carpet screening marked the third film in the DC Universe continuity after the hit Superman and the poorly received Supergirl. Clayface is scheduled to open nationwide on October 23, 2026. The event was the first public appearance of co‑chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran since Ellison told them to "keep doing what you’re doing" and confirmed they remain co‑CEOs of DC Studios.
What the reports add
The report notes that the film was written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini and directed by James Watkins. It also lists the studio’s current projects: the full‑season series Lanterns, the post‑production film Man of Tomorrow (directed by Gunn), Batman Part II (in production with Steven Soderbergh assisting Matt Reeves), and The People v. Gorilla Grodd, among other titles yet to be announced.
What was said
Safran told The Hollywood Reporter, "James and I had this bigger story that we wanted to tell when we started four years ago… the fact that we now have the opportunity to do so with even more resources at our fingertips is really exciting for us." He added that Ellison invited them to continue and that they had presented a detailed multi‑year plan to him. Gunn said, "David knows everything… we told David long ago, and went through what the basic plan was," emphasizing that the studio’s long‑term vision was shared with the new boss.
How it came about
The premiere follows Skydance’s blockbuster acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a combined Skydance‑Warner entity that will continue to release films under both the Paramount and Warner Bros. logos, as detailed in a recent Felo News piece on the merger’s film‑division plan. Earlier this month, Felo reported on the studio’s restructuring and the continuation of separate branding for the two legacy studios.
Key facts
- Clayface premiered in Los Angeles on Oct. 13, 2026. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- The film is the third DC Universe entry after Superman and Supergirl. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Clayface will open in theaters on Oct. 23, 2026. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- James Gunn and Peter Safran remain co‑CEOs of DC Studios under David Ellison. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Upcoming projects include Lanterns, Man of Tomorrow, Batman Part II, and The People v. Gorilla Grodd. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “DC Studios’ James Gunn and Peter Safran Recall Detailing Long-Term Plans to New Boss David Ellison”
