James Gunn says Clayface is a "very special story" in fiery response to backlash

With Clayface set to contain some gruesome body horror when it hits the big screen later this month, some fans are very much looking forward to an alternative entry in the superhero genre.

That isn't the case for everybody, however, as producer and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn found out. The filmmaker, who is also the co-Chairman of the studio, had a response in defence of the upcoming film.

In a now-deleted post on Threads earlier this week, one user wasn't particularly excited by the psychological horror film as they wrote (via Variety): "who tf asked for a Clayface movie?"

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Gunn, who runs DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, issued a fiery reply, writing: "Who tf asked for Back to the Future? Casablanca? There's Something About Mary? Pan's Labyrinth? Fury Road? Weapons? The Matrix?"

"Although it may seem like it, Hollywood isn't a place where the only way to make a movie is the public voting on what IP they want to see that they've seen countless times before," he continued.

In a second reply, Gunn added: "Sometimes someone - in this case initially Mike Flanagan and then James Watkins and Hossein Amini - were inspired by a relatively little known fictional character and crafted what I believe is a very special story around that character."

"I'd take that inspiration a thousand times over some writer trying to make a buck by writing a listless screenplay about a majorly popular character he or she has no passion or feel for," he concluded.

Several users supported the filmmaker's comments as they expressed their excitement for the upcoming film, with one writing: "Brilliant response! I'm stoked for Clayface, looks f**king spectacular!"

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"Clayface has always been one of my favourite Batman villains. All of them from Basil to Matt Hagan (my fave) to the new ones. A movie doing clayface things should be awesome," added another eager fan.

The film, which is directed by Watkins from a screenplay by Flanagan and Amini, tells the story of actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Davies) following a brutal attack. With his face being disfigured, he undergoes a risky - and life-altering - procedure.

Clayface is released in cinemas on 23 October.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.