DC Studios' upcoming R-rated horror film, 'Clayface,' is poised to be a pivotal release, not only for its genre-bending approach but also for unveiling the nascent DC Universe's take on Gotham City. While many might assume such a foundational film would come with strict mandates for world-building, director James Watkins tells IndieWire that his experience was quite the opposite.

Watkins, known for his work on atmospheric horror films like 'The Woman in Black' and 'Speak No Evil,' found himself with surprising creative freedom when designing the iconic city. He collaborated closely with Oscar-winning production designer James Price, celebrated for his work on 'Poor Things,' to craft a Gotham that served their specific narrative.

"There weren’t mandates, there was no ‘You need to do this, you need to do that,'" Watkins shared, explaining their process. Instead, they envisioned an "overbearing, overpowering" city with a "slightly retro feel," drawing inspiration from '70s, '80s, and '90s New York photography. Their proposed vision was met with enthusiasm rather than resistance from DC Studios leadership.

This approach reflects the filmmaker-driven philosophy championed by DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Watkins praised the supportive environment, stating, "It was just an incredibly supportive atmosphere of how to achieve it. They wanted to lean into that, and I think they try to be filmmaker-driven and they trusted me." He believes this organic, passion-led method is crucial, noting that "If you try and do things algorithmically, I just don’t think it works."

'Clayface' delves into the origin story of Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an actor whose promising career is shattered after a run-in with the Gotham mob leaves his face disfigured. An experimental treatment from Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie) restores his appearance but grants him shapeshifting abilities, setting him on a tragic path of vengeance and transformation into the titular villain.

Watkins was drawn to the nuanced script, originally pitched by Mike Flanagan and refined by Hossein Amini, which allowed him to blend Cronenberg-esque body horror with practical effects and a dark character arc. He emphasized his preference for storytelling rooted in emotion: "I don’t like just doing clockwork horror, I like the sense of a story that comes from character, comes from emotion."

Ultimately, for Watkins, the genre is secondary to the human element. Whether it's a horror film or a comic book adaptation, his focus remains on grounding the narrative in relatable characters and their emotional journeys. 'Clayface' is set to open in theaters on Friday, October 23, offering audiences a fresh, character-driven take on a classic DC villain and the city he inhabits.