Three-time Emmy winner Aaron Paul makes a brief, memorable cameo in the recently released DC film Clayface. Director James Watkins has now shed light on the decision to cast the acclaimed actor, known for his roles in Breaking Bad and Westworld, in the studio's first R-rated horror movie.
Paul portrays Jimmy “One Nut” Hagen, the deceased and abusive father of protagonist Matt Hagen, played by Tom Rhys Harries. Reports of Paul's involvement in the film first emerged in June. His cameo occurs during the film's climax, set within the Gotham City nightclub Vesuvius. In this pivotal scene, Matt confronts the gangsters responsible for his disfigurement and, in a moment of transformation, morphs into his father to confront the killer.
Initially, Paul was slated for a more substantial supporting role, including flashbacks depicting Matt's youth. However, the filmmakers ultimately decided to excise most of these scenes, leaving only his appearance in the nightclub sequence.
Watkins explained to Entertainment Weekly that the character's backstory was considered in relation to Matt's identity. "In terms of trying to figure out the character, it was, How much is Matt defined by his past and how much is he an everyman?" Watkins stated. "At one point, we were looking at it and thinking, Is it the ‘sins of the father’? But actually, as we worked on the script, I thought that notion of revenge was more universal and more relatable to all of us."
Instead of being haunted by his father's memory, Matt Hagen weaponizes it against his adversaries. Watkins further elaborated, "He’s probably also saying, ‘No, I’m not my father.’"