Does Matt Hagen Die In Clayface? The DCU Ending Explained Clayface ends with Matt Hagen barely escaping with his life while retaining his powers and his obsession for Caitlyn Fairchild. The film's conclusion sets the stage for future DCU installments by establishing Gotham City's corrupt status and introducing the crime boss Markos Szabo. With Batman expected to join the universe soon, the survived Clayface stands ready as a potential adversary. No, Matt Hagen does not die at the end of Clayface. After his final transformation into the classic version of Clayface, he begs Caitlyn to end his suffering. She does intervene, and his body dissolves into a paste-like substance that oozes into the sewers beneath Gotham City. However, Caitlyn believes Matt likely survived somewhere beneath the city. The film's closing moments confirm her suspicion when a homeless man approaches Caitlyn and bows to her in the same way Matt did earlier. This interaction reveals that Matt used his shapeshifting abilities to disguise himself.Matt Hagen Uses Powers in SewersThe final scene shows Matt returning to his new home in the sewers after the encounter. He uses his powers to role-play a conversation between himself and Caitlyn, demonstrating his deep emotional attachment to her. This confirms he retains both his abilities and his obsession. The ending also establishes significant groundwork for the broader DCU.Clayface provides the franchise's first full look at Gotham City, setting the stage for Batman's eventual arrival. The film's depiction of a corrupt city, with police under the control of mob boss Markos Szabo, mirrors classic portrayals of Gotham. Szabo's role as a crime lord also opens the door for future introductions of iconic figures like Carmine Falcone and Salvatore Maroni.Hagen Poses as Batman AdversaryMatt Hagen's survival in the sewers positions him as a potential adversary for the DCU's Batman when the character finally joins the universe. James Watkins directed the film from a script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. The movie marks the DCU's first foray into Gotham City without featuring Batman himself. Clayface remains one of the most tragic villain origin stories in the franchise so far.