The final trailer for Clayface hits the internet and it has another secret reference to Batman: The Animated Series.
This trailer does not offer a ton of new insights into the plot of the movie. From previous sneak peeks, we can infer that Matt Hagen was a successful movie actor known for his good looks. However, he suffers grievous scarring from an attack while at home, then undergoes an experimental process to reclaim his handsome face. But in doing so, he might start transforming into a giant mud monster.
The new trailer does showcase more of the experiment that Hagen uses to transform his face. However there is no indication if the experimental treatment itself was a failure that turned Hagen into Clayface or if there is something else that occurred. In the Batman: The Animated Series story line this movie is based on, Hagen was force-fed an overdose of the Renuyu formula by some gangsters when Hagen tried to steal some. Is it possible, something like that happens in the movie?
The Bonus ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Reference
We also see more of actress Naomi Ackie as Dr. Caitlin Bates. The trailer seems to hint that Bates and Hagen may form a romantic relationship with each other as the transformations continue to mutate. This seems like this romance with a doctor plot line took direct inspiration from another BTAS episode: Mudslide
Mudslide was Clayface’s second appearance in the show. There we discover that Hagen started a romance with a former medical advisor on his old movies, a doctor named Stella Bates. In the show, Bates secretly made a lab to help Hagen and transform him to something more humanoid. All the while, Bates was longing for a romantic rekindling with Hagen. It is unclear why the movie changed Stella’s name to Caitlin. Perhaps Stella sounds too old-fashioned?
This is a bit of a surprise. We knew that Feat of Clay is a direct source material for writer Mike Flanagan. But it was never mentioned, that Mudslide also contributed to the film’s plot.
But what would be super cool is if somehow they could somehow incorporate Annie into the movie to make a reference to the other phenomenal Clayface episode Growing Pains. For BTAS fans, Annie is the little girl who Robin fell in love with and revealed to be a sentient piece of Clayface.
Clayface hits theaters October 23rd.
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