Manchester is becoming Gotham once again
Filming for the new Clayface movie has taken place in Castlefield today(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Gotham has taken over Manchester once again as filming continues on DC’s next big superhero movie.
For the last month, production on the upcoming Clayface movie has taken place across the north, with significant locations in Liverpool doubling-up as the comic book city for the movie, which will star White Lines and Suspicion actor Tom Rhys Harries in the lead role of Matt Hagen.
The movie will follow the comic book villain Clayface, who is a recurring enemy of Batman. In the comics, Matt is a semi-successful actor who goes on to portray the character he once played in a horror movie where he can transform into a body of clay.
Stockport was also chosen with the prominent Plaza Theatre building being used for a red carpet scene earlier this month. Evening scenes saw Harries running down the carpet outside the Art Deco theatre clutching his face in front of crowds of extras taking on the roles of fans and paparazzi.
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Posters were lined on the walls calling for action in Gotham(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Today, filming has begun in the city centre with Castlefield now being chosen for further scenes starring Harries and co-star Naomi Ackie, who many will recognise from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Mickey 17, and The Thursday Murder Club.
The Castlefield scenes under the iconic archways on Duke Street are believed to portray a homeless bunker camp, with graffiti and disused posters covering the walls, alongside the likes of a telephone box.
Actors were seen filming mysterious scenes for Clayface in Castlefield(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Some of the ripped wall posters encourage people to ‘stand up to the Gotham police’ and to ‘abolish the GCPD (Gotham City Police District)’. Other posters made reference to a fortune teller, named Madame Shirley, as well as missing persons posters and rooms for rent. One poster also referenced a rally against a Senator Spanne.
There was also graffiti referring to ‘The Jokers’, a clear nod to the fellow Batman villain. Vehicles were also seen on location, including a Dodge Charger car with a Gotham licence plate and Gotham-themed police cars.
It looks like Gotham Police are already on the case(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
There were also shop fronts designed to replicate a car repair shop, whilst a pair of actors could be seen on location filming scenes, with one clutching a newspaper.
It is thought that the filming at Castlefield will just last throughout today, before production is set to return to Liverpool for further scenes.
The scenes are believed to involve a homeless settlement in Gotham(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Last week, filming took place again in Liverpool, after Liverpool Crown Court previously served as a backdrop for the Gotham City Courthouse. This time round, filming saw The Philharmonic Hall transformed into a nightclub named Vesuvius.
Expected to be released next Autumn, Clayface will be directed by James Watkins and produced by by Guardians of the Galaxy writer and director James Gunn.
The movie is set to be released in autumn next year(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Following this year’s release of Superman, Clayface will form part of DC Universe’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters series of films. The cinematic universe is also set to include the upcoming Supergirl, Man of Tomorrow and Swamp Thing movies.
Alongside harries and Ackie, the film is also set to star Max Minghella and Ray Donovan actor Eddie Marsan in undisclosed roles.
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