“We knew we were shooting outside, we knew there would be some photos that would get out, and we knew there was some makeup and stuff involved,” Gunn said in an interview with Brandon Davis while discussing the leaked images from the Clayface set. “And they are like, ‘Oh, should we not put any of the makeup on and do it with visual effects in post?’ And I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ I mean, is it going to make one dollar less at the box office, you know, if some photos leak? Secondly, you wanna spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on VFX when it’s going to look better if it’s practical? Because there are a lot of amazing practical effects in Clayface.”

Why Is It Important That Clayface Uses Practical Effects?

The emphasis on practical effects for Clayface is a critical component of DC Studios’ larger strategic shift, impacting both the film’s budget and its creative integrity. Opting for in-camera makeup and prosthetics over extensive CGI significantly lowers production costs. This fiscal discipline allows DC to manage its investments and avoid the financial bloat that has plagued past superhero blockbusters. With a reported budget of around $45 million, Clayface is positioned for success on a completely different scale than its franchise siblings. A massive tentpole like Superman, which soared past $615 million, requires an enormous global take to turn a profit. In contrast, a more modestly budgeted film like Clayface can become highly profitable with a worldwide gross of just $150 million, making it a sustainable and repeatable model for future genre projects within the DCU.