How the Clayface director reveals why the movie didn’t choose the original villain for its modern story
Why Hagen Fit the Story
Watkins told Variety that he considered several comic-book versions, including Karlo, before choosing Hagen with writer Mike Flanagan. He said Karlo’s traditional, classic-Hollywood qualities were harder to place in a modern story.
Watkins saw Hagen as more relatable and adaptable to the film’s setting. He said the movie’s Gotham has contemporary elements but draws on multiple genres and aims for a slightly timeless feel.
The Film Draws From Several Versions
The movie does not rely on a single comic-book portrayal. Watkins said it cherry-picks details from different iterations, and the film’s Hagen also reflects the character’s version in Batman: The Animated Series.
In the comics, Hagen was not an actor. His original story instead made him a professional deep-sea diver who discovered a cave containing a radioactive substance.
Karlo’s Comic-Book Beginnings
Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Karlo first appeared in Detective Comics #40 in 1940. He was a former horror-film star who became enraged after learning that The Dread Castle was being remade without him.
Karlo initially had no supernatural powers. He adopted the identity of a villain he had played, wore a clay mask and targeted the remake’s cast and crew.
Hagen’s Powers And Origin
Finger and Sheldon Moldoff created Hagen, who debuted in Detective Comics #298 in 1961. In his original comic-book origin, he gained the ability to change his appearance after touching a radioactive substance in an underwater cave.
His shapeshifting let him impersonate others and turn parts of his body into weapons. The movie’s version differs from that original origin, incorporating elements from other adaptations.
Key points
- James Watkins and Mike Flanagan chose Matt Hagen as the film’s central Clayface.
- Watkins said Basil Karlo’s classic-Hollywood traits were harder to fit into a modern story.
- The movie draws on multiple versions, including Batman: The Animated Series.
- Karlo debuted in Detective Comics #40 in 1940; Hagen appeared in Detective Comics #298 in 1961.