'Clayface' Officially Sets Up Another Iconic Batman Villain in the DC Universe

In the summer of 2025, Clayface was being filmed in Liverpool. Set photos showed graffiti on a wall with the tag "The Jokers," sparking speculation about the Joker's presence in Gotham City. The plural form could suggest multiple Jokers, possibly from a 2020 storyline introducing three versions of the character. Others thought it might refer to the Joker gang or that the Joker himself would appear in Clayface.

However, the movie features only a few Joker references. There's a mural showing a giant clown face on "Amusement Mile," a theme park often associated with the Joker's hideout. The movie also includes a TV scene where Matt Hagen waits for Oscar nominations, with one nominee being "One Bad Day," a reference to the Joker's famous quote in Alan Moore's The Killing Joke.

During the film, Matt's face is carved by a mob boss in a way that resembles the Joker's scarred face from Heath Ledger's portrayal in The Dark Knight. While these references might suggest a connection to the Joker, they don't confirm his existence in the DCU's Gotham. James Gunn and Peter Safran appear to be considering the Joker for the DC Universe, and fans can only speculate about future appearances.