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Now that audiences have had a chance to see their first glimpse of DC Studios’ Clayface, more information about the movie is slowly emerging — including why it’s a first for the new DCU and what that might mean moving forward.

Responding to fan comments on Threads, DC Studios co-head James Gunn said that the new movie is “very connected [to the wider DCU], but as always the standalone story is what’s important.” Very connected in what ways? That’s the kind of thing that will likely remain a secret for awhile, but Gunn did drop one curious piece of information, definitively stating that the movie is set before 2025's Superman, and is “the first DCU film out of chronological order.”

First off, it’s the first? Does that mean we should expect other DCU movies set in the past — or even the far future, for that matter — of the DCU? (Legion of Super-Heroes, we’re waiting for you.)

Secondly, the fact that Clayface is set before Superman at some undefined point means that Matt Hagen from the movie may in fact be the Clayface that fans have already seen in action in the animated Creature Commandos series — which would mean that we’ve seen the character’s near-death experience years before we see his origin story. That particular Clayface wasn’t named, leaving the subject entirely unresolved for now.

Of course, that’s somewhat fitting. After all, shouldn’t a character made out of clay have something of a soft chronology?

Clayface will be released October 23. Creature Commandos Season 1 is streaming on HBO Max now.

Enjoy our guides to how to watch the recent DCEU, the Arrowverse, and James Gunn's upcoming DCU. Oh, and don't forget our guide to what's coming up for DC projects on the big and small screens.