The recently released DC film Clayface contains several references to the Joker, hinting at the character's potential presence in the DC Universe. While set photos initially fueled speculation about the Joker's direct involvement, the film instead weaves in subtler nods to the iconic Batman adversary.
Early set photos from Clayface's 2025 filming in Liverpool revealed graffiti that included the tag "The Jokers." This led to theories connecting it to the DC Comics storyline "Three Jokers," which posits multiple versions of the character, or to the Joker gang seen in previous Batman films. However, the film itself does not feature the Joker or his gang.
One prominent visual reference appears in a teaser clip, showing Matt Hagen walking past a large sign for "Amusement Mile" emblazoned with a clown face. This location is often depicted in comics as a hideout for the Joker. While this scene was featured in the teaser, the graffiti from set photos may not have made it into the final cut of the movie, or if it did, it is not prominently displayed.
Further References
Beyond the Amusement Mile sign, the film includes two other notable connections to the Joker. Early in the movie, while Matt Hagen watches television awaiting Oscar nominations, one mentioned film is titled One Bad Day. This phrase is famously associated with the Joker, particularly from Alan Moore's The Killing Joke, where he suggests that a single bad day can drive anyone to madness. The title was also used for a 2022 Batman/Joker story.
Another significant reference occurs during a violent scene where a mob boss carves Hagen's face. The specific nature of the injury, an upturned grin-like cut along the mouth, evokes the Joker's scarred visage, most notably Heath Ledger's portrayal in The Dark Knight. This scene mirrors the Joker's own accounts of how he acquired his scars in that film.
While these references do not confirm the Joker's immediate presence in the DCU's Gotham, they suggest that DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are considering the character for future narratives and aim to keep the audience aware of his potential significance.