Clayface hid one legendary Batman villain in plain sight throughout the entire film. The DCU movie scattered multiple easter eggs referencing an iconic Gotham rogue fans have been waiting to see on screen.

Clayface had plenty of Joker easter eggs

The Joker never appears in the film, but his shadow looms over nearly every act.

Matt Hagen’s Scarred Grin Echoes the Clown Prince

The film features a gruesome scene where a mob boss carves up Matt Hagen’s face after discovering an affair. The blade enters Matt’s mouth and carves outward, creating an upturned, grin-like cut.

Matt later smiles with bleeding scars on his face, immediately evoking the Joker’s signature look. The moment specifically recalls Heath Ledger’s portrayal in The Dark Knight. Fans will remember the two contradictory scenes where Ledger’s Joker explains how he got his scars.

A Familiar Oscar-Nominated Title Appears on Screen

Early in the film, Matt watches television while awaiting Oscar nomination announcements. Before his name comes up, another nominee’s film carries the title One Bad Day. That phrase originates from Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke, widely regarded as the greatest Joker story ever told. In that comic, the Joker tells Batman that one bad day can drive anyone to madness. DC also used One Bad Day as the title of a Batman/Joker story published in 2022.

A Giant Clown Face Looms Over Amusement Mile

The DCU film includes a scene where Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) walks past a massive “Amusement Mile” sign. The sign displays an enormous clown face that immediately brings the Joker to mind. In DC Comics lore, Amusement Mile frequently appears as a run-down theme park. The Joker often uses it as a personal hideout in the source material.

Set Photos Reveal Even More Hidden Nods

During filming in Liverpool in summer 2025, set photos revealed wall graffiti reading “The Jokers.” Some fans speculated this referenced a 2020 DC Comics storyline introducing three separate Jokers. Others believed it pointed to the Joker gang, a group of street criminals who idolize the villain.

A separate set photo also showed a paper flyer reading “Join the Joker” on a wall. However, neither reference receives prominent focus in the finished film. These nods suggest DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran are planting seeds for the Joker’s eventual DCU debut.