Credit: National Trust/DC
We have plenty of spots just calling out to be filming locations in Manchester, in with high profile productions like Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders and countless Harlan Coben adaptations having been filmed in the area, there are more and more showbiz companies coming to the region for their next big hit. Next on the list is a huge new DC blockbuster, Clayface, which takes place in the familiar surroundings of Gotham City, of Batman fame, but is an eerily different offering, and we’ve got the lowdown on where the crew has been filming in Manchester and the surrounding areas.
Credit: DC What is Clayface?
More sinister than your average superhero film, Clayface follows a shape-shifting creature made of magical clay that haunts Gotham City, alternating between villain and ally of Batman. Multiple tragic figures have taken on the Clayface mantle over the years.
According to IMDb, Clayface spans body horror, folk horror, monster horror and psychological horror, plus your usual action, adventure, fantasy type genres, and when you notice that the screenplay was written by the incredible Mike Flanagan, famed for the likes of The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass and Gerald’s Game, and is being directed by James Watkins of Eden Lake and Speak No Evil, Clayface is set to be a horror show for the masses.
Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen AKA Clayface, Naomi Ackie (fresh from her role in The Thursday Murder Club, amongst other successes) as Caitlin Bates, plus Eddie Marsan and Max Minghella, so plenty of British talent to go around.
Clayface filming locations in Manchester
The Clayface production has been spotted in several places around Manchester, with the full cast and crew in tow.
Stockport Plaza
@theeradko via TikTok
The incredible Art Deco façade of Stockport Plaza serves as a dramatic backdrop for the Clayface production, being used earlier this month to film scenes outside a film premiere, featuring screaming fans and paparazzi.
The filming on September 9 featured star Tom Rhys Harries dressed in a blue suit as he ran through the crowds, with film posters seen on set suggesting the filming was for the premiere of a fictional movie called The Light Between. Filming also saw actors walk the red carpet outside the Stockport Plaza, which first opened back in 1932.
Castlefield 
Credit: National Trust
On September 17, the industrial backdrop of Castlefield in Manchester city centre was used for filming Clayface, although what the scenes were depicting isn’t really the most flattering. The historic and iconic railway arches were dressed as homeless camps with litter and empty trollies sprawled everywhere – not unlike what you see when the canals run dry – and posters pasted on the walls, alluding to things going on in Gotham.
Both Ackie and Harries were seen filming scenes in Castlefield, and the use of Gotham police cars and evidence unit vehicles suggests some kind of crime being unearthed in the film.
Other North West Clayface filming locations
Just over to the coast in Liverpool and the general Merseyside area, there have been plenty of sightings of the Clayface team in filming mode.
Credit: Phil Kiel via Unsplash Seacombe Promenade
The Wirral ferry terminal at Seacombe Promenade was cordoned off for filming, with crews seeming to use the entrance to the disused Birkenhead tunnel for Clayface filming.
Liverpool Crown Court
As is the norm with many films of this type, a hospital is definitely needed. For Clayface, Liverpool Crown Court was transformed – at least externally – into Gotham Hospital, which you can imagine will be much frequented.
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
The beautiful Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool was adorned with neon lights for Clayface filming, doubling as glitzy nightclub Vesuvius, replacing its usual classic frontage. Max Minghella was spotted on location, bolstering rumours that he will play a detective in the movie, as filming also involved some police cars arriving outside the nightclub.
New Brighton 
Credit: The New Palace & Adventureland New Brighton
The lovely New Brighton became a filming location for Clayface too, with amusement arcades and fairground rides spotted being used in filming, alongside vintage cars sighted outside Adventureland in Wirral.
The Cunard Building
The beautiful Cunard Building in Liverpool seemed to be used for some rainy scenes, too, with water towers spotted on set pouring water onto the umbrella-clad actors below. The building seemed to be renamed ‘Pinkney Tower‘, as actors poured into the entrance surrounded by desperate reporters – a la some sort of court entrance.
Water Street
A ‘Chestnut Avenue‘ subway sign appeared on Water Street in Liverpool, usually called James Street station on the daily. Nearby India Buildings were also used as Gotham City Hall, which is set to be quite the spectacle.
The World Museum
Early in filming, The World Museum in Liverpool was transformed into Gotham City Courthouse, which we’re sure will get a lot of use.
When is Clayface out?
Clayface is set to be released on 11 September 2026.