Clayface Gets an R Rating: Every Upcoming DCU Batman Project and Its Expected Rating, Explained

The DCU is about to get its first R-rated theatrical release, and it’s a Batman villain who earned it. Clayface has officially received an R rating, which raises a bigger question: how dark will the rest of Gotham’s slate get? Here’s the full picture, show by show.

The DCU’s Batman Slate

Why Clayface Earned Its R?

The Motion Picture Association cited strong bloody violence, gore, language, some nudity and brief drug use. That’s no shock given the premise. Matt Hagen is a rising actor whose face is slashed by a Gotham gangster. Desperate, he turns to Naomi Ackie’s fringe scientist, Dr. Caitlyn Corr, and an experimental drug. The treatment backfires, and his skin begins to melt like candle wax as he loses his humanity.

DC Studios co-president Peter Safran compared it to David Cronenberg’s The Fly, and Gunn predicted the R rating well in advance. At just 1 hour 48 minutes, it matches Supergirl as the shortest DCU movie so far. The tight runtime suits a body-horror film. You can read about the character’s comic history on Clayface’s Wikipedia page.

Every Upcoming Batman Project, Briefly

The Batman Part II (PG-13). Matt Reeves’ sequel is filming in England and Scotland with Robert Pattinson back in the cowl. Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Charles Dance, Brian Tyree Henry and Sebastian Koch join, while Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright and Andy Serkis return. Stan is reported to play Harvey Dent, and the film may draw from The Long Halloween. Even so, a big family-friendly blockbuster is likelier to stay at the first film’s PG-13, pushed to its limit.

Dynamic Duo (PG-13). This animated film from DC Studios and Swaybox Studios, known for mixing puppetry, stop-motion and CG, follows Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, the first two Robins. Dick joins Batman, while Jason is drawn to the Red Hood gang. It slipped from June 30 to September 22, 2028, and is reportedly being positioned as a back-to-school release. Expect violence, but animated theatrical releases usually aim at families.

The Brave and the Bold (PG-13). This is the DCU’s canon Batman film, pairing Bruce Wayne with his son Damian as Robin, inspired by Grant Morrison’s comics. Andy Muschietti is still attached to direct, and Christina Hodson is writing, a hire Gunn has defended after fan backlash. There’s no release date, since Gunn doesn’t want to crowd the Batsphere before The Batman Part II. As the flagship Batman film, it needs wide reach, so PG-13 makes sense.

Absolute Batman (TV-14/TV-MA). Announced at Annecy as an adult animated series, it adapts Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s comic, which reimagines Bruce Wayne as a working-class hero. Snyder is showrunner and executive producer. The comic is gritty, and the DCU’s Creature Commandos launched with a TV-MA, so that’s the likeliest rating.

Untitled Deathstroke/Bane film (PG-13 or R). Reports say this villain team-up became a priority over the summer. Matthew Orton is writing, and Greg Mottola, known for comedies like Superbad but already part of the DC family through Peacemaker, is the frontrunner to direct. After Clayface, the DCU has shown it’s willing to go R, and this could swing either way.

Teen Titans (PG-13). Ana Nogueira signed on to write in 2024, but she has moved to the DCU’s Wonder Woman first, so the Titans are on the back burner. The team forms around Robin with Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg, characters most people know from the animated series. DC wouldn’t want to alienate that fan base.

Joker: Laugh Riot (TV-14). DC’s first anime series was greenlit at Annecy, with Jim Krieg executive producing and Yasuhiro Aoki directing. It isn’t set in the DCU. Batman is murdered, and Joker goes on a vengeful hunt through Gotham’s underworld for the killer. The premise could push toward TV-MA, but DC’s animated action usually lands at TV-14.

What the Ratings Tell Us?

DC Studios appears to be sorting its Batman world by audience. Mainstream blockbusters stay PG-13 to keep families in theaters. Darker villain stories and adult animation get room to be brutal. If Clayface performs well, expect more R-rated bets.

Want more? Follow our DC Universe coverage and read about the Flash costume reveal on Technosports.

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