Clayface, who made his debut in the new DC Universe (DCU) animated series Creature Commandos, is set to star in his own feature film releasing in 2026. This marks the first Gotham-related character to get a standalone movie in the universe James Gunn is building.
This has led many fans to believe the Clayface film will serve as a bridge to other key Gotham characters like Batman, Robin, and Joker. On the film’s set, fans quickly spotted a graffiti artwork reading “The Jokers.” The use of the plural form suggests there could be more than one Joker in the Clayface movie, or perhaps in the wider DCU.
“The Jokers” could be a nod to the 2020 miniseries Three Jokers by Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok. That comic explores three different men who have taken on the Joker mantle over decades.
Each represents a distinct era: The Criminal, The Clown, and The Comedian. Together, they illustrate the evolution of Joker’s character in DC history and explain why he seems nearly unbeatable.
If the DCU draws inspiration from Three Jokers, it could solve one of the biggest challenges in portraying this iconic villain: the risk of overexposure in film.
From Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Mark Hamill, Jared Leto, Joaquin Phoenix to Barry Keoghan, audiences have seen almost every Joker interpretation. DC Studios could explore all facets of the character from a fresh perspective, all within one cohesive universe.
Andy Muschietti’s film The Brave and the Bold will introduce a seasoned Batman, focusing less on his origin story. This approach mirrors how James Gunn handled Superman, briefly touching on his background in the film’s opening minutes.
This sets the stage for the DCU to reveal that Batman has faced multiple Jokers throughout his career. Instead of choosing a single version, the DCU might establish Joker as a multifaceted legend in Gotham’s history. Each Joker could reflect a different phase in Batman’s journey.
Of course, it’s also possible that the graffiti “The Jokers” doesn’t refer to multiple Jokers at all. It might simply be a way to signify ordinary criminals. Gotham has always been a city where criminals adopt dramatic personas. The Batman film featured a similar concept with the Train Gang, a group of criminals dressed as clowns but unrelated to Barry Keoghan’s Joker.
It’s also possible “The Jokers” gang existed before Batman’s arch-nemesis appeared in the DCU. A clown-themed crime group might have indirectly inspired the Joker’s creation, spreading terror across Gotham.