{
  "id": 16032990,
  "title": "Clayface director dodges question over the Batman spin-off's place on the DCU timeline",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/clayface-director-dodges-question-over-the-batman-spin-offs-place-on",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-22T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/entertainment/clayface-dcu-timeline-position-exclusive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Clayface director James Watkins has not clarified the exact time period in which the Batman villain's standalone live-action film is set. While it is known that Clayface takes place before every other DC Universe (DCU) film and TV show released so far, Watkins declined to give a specific year. DC Studios co-heads James Gunn and Peter Safran have confirmed that Clayface precedes Creature Commandos and Superman chronologically. They also mentioned that the adult animated series, believed to be set in late 2024, should take place prior to Creature Commandos' events. The year Clayface is set in is intentionally left vague, according to Watkins. He explained that the world of Clayface is modern but has an analog feel and retro-art school aesthetic. He added that the film's standalone nature allowed him to focus on creating his own world without worrying about the DCU timeline.",
  "summary": "Chronologically, Clayface takes place before every other DCU project — but the exact year it's set in remains a mystery.",
  "key_points": [
    "James Watkins avoids specifying Clayface's exact timeline in the DC Universe.",
    "Clayface is confirmed to precede Creature Commandos and Superman chronologically."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}