Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Watkins revealed that Paul features as Matt Hagen’s father – a pivotal figure in the backstory of the character who eventually becomes the shape-shifting Clayface. While early concepts for the film included flashbacks exploring Matt's upbringing in Gotham's slums with his father, these were ultimately cut. However, Paul’s presence remains, described by Watkins as "a real brief Easter egg kind of moment."

Paul’s cameo is nestled within an intense sequence set in Club Vesuvius. Here, Matt Hagen (portrayed by Tom Rhys Harries) is locked in a brutal confrontation with Szabo’s (David Dencik) goons. In a moment charged with emotional weight and visceral action, Matt utilizes his newfound shape-shifting abilities, transforming into various individuals before taking on the form of his deceased father. This transformation isn't merely cosmetic; it's a vehicle for vengeance as Matt, embodying his father, dispatches Jimmy "One Nut" (Enzo Squillino Jr.), the gangster responsible for his father's murder years prior.

Watkins elaborated on the creative process behind Matt Hagen’s character arc, explaining how the team explored the extent to which Matt is defined by his past. Initially, the filmmakers considered the theme of “sins of the father,” but eventually shifted focus. “As we worked on the script, I thought that notion of revenge was more universal and more relatable to all of us,” Watkins told Entertainment Weekly. He emphasized that the desire for retribution, when wronged, is a deeply human experience, even if in real life, individuals often feel powerless to act on it.

Clayface tells the story of Matt Hagen, a promising actor whose career is shattered after a brutal attack by mafioso Szabo disfigures his face. Desperate, Matt seeks out Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a brilliant scientist developing groundbreaking nanotech. He convinces her to use her research to restore his face, but the procedure results in terrifying side effects, transforming him into the monstrous Clayface and setting him on a bloody path of revenge. Paul’s uncredited, yet impactful, appearance serves as a poignant anchor for Matt’s traumatic past and his relentless pursuit of justice.