‘Clayface’ trailer may feature a ‘Joker’ Easter egg as one eerie shot stands out
The first teaser for ‘Clayface’ has dropped, and it brings something stranger, darker, and a bit unsettling to the forefront. Directed by James Watkins, the film introduces Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries. At first glance, Hagen looks exactly how one would expect: a rising Hollywood name with charm to spare. His life appears perfect on the surface, but the teaser trailer hints that things are about to take a messy turn when the title releases on October 23. What really caught people off guard, though, isn’t just the tone. It’s a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it moment that has sparked a wave of speculation online. Around the mid-point of the teaser, there’s a quick shot of a dim hallway. In the background, a creepy clown stares out from an amusement park ad. The sign reads, “Excitement & thrills this way!” and suddenly, fans started connecting dots.
While there’s no direct mention of the Joker, the imagery is hard to ignore. Longtime DC followers likely thought of ‘Batman: The Killing Joke’, where an abandoned amusement park becomes the Joker’s playground. That eerie carnival theme feels very familiar. Is it intentional? That’s the million-dollar question. While it could be a simple aesthetic choice, filmmakers rarely include something that specific by accident. Even if it’s not a direct reference, it feels like a wink to the audience. Another clue that strengthens the Gotham connection comes from a separate moment in the trailer featuring a Gotham City Police vehicle. That alone anchors the story in Batman’s world. And if Gotham is in play, people naturally wonder who else might be lurking in the shadows.
After all, in Batman’s city, his most dangerous enemy is not too far behind. That said, things get a little complicated when you look at the bigger DC picture. The current DC Universe, overseen by James Gunn and Peter Safran, is still in its early stages. There isn’t even an official ‘Batman’ cast for this timeline yet. Robert Pattinson’s version exists in a completely separate continuity tied to ‘The Batman’ and its upcoming sequel. So if this teaser is hinting at the Joker, it wouldn’t be Pattinson’s version, where Barry Keoghan took on the role. It would have to be someone entirely new. And no, it’s almost certainly not going to connect to Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck from ‘Joker’ or ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. That storyline seems pretty much wrapped up.
There’s also the question of timing. DC Studios is still planning to introduce its new Batman in ‘The Brave and the Bold’, with Andy Muschietti attached. That project is expected to establish Gotham’s main players. Dropping a Joker reveal in ‘Clayface’ before that happens would feel a bit out of order. So, what’s the most likely scenario? If that creepy clown sign is anything more than set dressing, it’s probably just a tease. A subtle hint that the Joker exists somewhere in this world, waiting for the right moment to step into the spotlight.
