James Gunn’s rebooted DC Universe continues to expand, and fans are catching glimpses of what’s ahead for Batman’s corner of the franchise. The upcoming R-rated horror-inspired ‘Clayface’ has already raised eyebrows for diving into one of Gotham’s strangest villains.
However, thanks to newly surfaced set photos, it’s clear that the film won’t just spotlight the tragic shapeshifter Matt Hagen; it will also hint at the larger Bat-Family and Gotham’s criminal underworld. Recently, fans have spotted references to two of Batman’s most important supporting characters: Robin and The Penguin.
Robin’s Legacy In New DCU Teased Through The Flying Graysons Poster
While neither has been officially confirmed to appear in the film, the teases are too deliberate to ignore. These small but meaningful Easter eggs are helping flesh out the timeline of Gunn’s new DCU. For decades, the story of Dick Grayson, the young circus acrobat who became the first Robin after the murder of his parents, has been one of the emotional anchors of the Batman mythos.
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Now, it looks like the DCU is formally planting seeds for his existence. A set photo shared by Chimichangaprod revealed a poster for The Flying Graysons, the famous trapeze family that Dick belonged to before tragedy struck. The poster, which promotes their performances at Haly’s Circus, immediately caught fans’ attention. To longtime readers, it’s an unmistakable sign that Robin part of this universe. What’s interesting is the timeline. Gunn has already made clear that Damian Wayne will be the Robin featured in Andy Muschietti’s upcoming ‘The Brave and the Bold‘.
That suggests Dick Grayson may already have matured into Nightwing in the DCU timeline. If so, the Flying Graysons poster could simply be a relic of Gotham’s past. At the same time, the ‘Clayface’ movie could be dabbling in flashbacks. There’s a theory floating among fans that the story might include glimpses of the past and that the poster hints at the fateful night the Graysons were killed. Either way, the sight of a Flying Graysons poster has excited fans.
The Penguin Spotted In Gotham Graffiti
The Robin Easter egg wasn’t the only Gotham surprise in the Clayface set photos. Alongside references to the Joker, another one of Batman’s most iconic villains has seemingly been confirmed: Oswald Cobblepot, the Penguin. Photos shared by batmanjubileee showed graffiti sprawled across Gotham’s grimy walls. This included the phrase “Behold the Penguin Man” paired with an image resembling Cobblepot.
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Other graffiti included the phrase “Jokers Rule,” reinforcing that the Clown Prince is alive and well in Gunn’s continuity. While these may be simple nods rather than signs of actual appearances in ‘Clayface’, the Penguin’s presence feels significant. Warner Bros. is already exploring the character in Matt Reeves’ separate ‘The Batman’ universe, with Colin Farrell’s Penguin leading his own HBO Max spinoff. Seeing Gunn’s DCU also references the character, suggesting he will play a role in the mainline continuity.
Thematically, Penguin’s inclusion in graffiti fits the horror tone of ‘Clayface’. Both villains embody the idea of Gotham as a city of grotesques. While fans may not see Robin or Penguin in the flesh during Clayface, the Easter eggs have already sparked conversation about where Gunn’s Gotham is headed. With ‘Superman’ leading and ‘The Brave and the Bold’ promising a new era for Batman and the Bat-Family, ‘Clayface’ looks to serve as a darker, more experimental entry.
