Disney Animation’s Clay movie has its star and its date: Kieran Culkin voices Flip, and the film opens in cinemas in November 2028. Walt Disney Animation Studios announced the original feature at the D23 Entertainment Showcase in Anaheim on Friday night.
Chief creative officer Jared Bush pitched it as an answer to a studio tradition, per Deadline:
“We have a rich history of stories that celebrate inspiring mentors and their aspirational students. So, with that in mind, we asked ourselves one very important question: What if the next Disney mentor stunk? And he does, and his name is Flip.”
Jared Bush, chief creative officer, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Flip is chosen during a yearly ritual to mentor a young, impressionable ball of clay named Mushy, runs away in the middle of the night, and discovers his charge is inescapable. The pair ends up lost in a fantastical forest, per the official synopsis via TheWrap. It is not to be confused with the DC Clayface film, which is a separate project at a different studio.
Who is making the Clay movie?
Fawn Veerasunthorn, currently co-directing this year’s Hexed, directs; Peter Del Vecho of Frozen produces. Culkin is coming off his Oscar for A Real Pain and his Emmy run on Succession.
What is the Clay movie about?
A mentor who is useless at mentoring, a student made of clay, and a journey through a forest that looks like a fantasy role-playing game. Disney’s own description calls it “a chaotic, funny and ultimately life-changing adventure.”
UAE cinemas usually carry Disney Animation releases around the same window as the US, though local dates are not set. The rest of the voice cast has not been announced.
Elsewhere at D23: Incredibles 3’s new villain is more powerful than the entire family combined, and Coco 2’s Miguel is a teenager now. Our D23 2026 announcements roundup has everything else.
When is the Clay movie released?
Clay opens in US cinemas on 22 November 2028, announced at D23. UAE release dates are expected to follow the usual Disney Animation window but have not been confirmed.
Who voices Flip in the Clay movie?
Kieran Culkin voices Flip, the world’s worst mentor. He is best known for Succession and his Oscar-winning role in A Real Pain. The rest of the voice cast has not been announced.
Is the Clay movie related to the DC Clayface film?
No. Clay is an original animated film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Clayface is a separate live-action DC Studios project about the Batman villain of the same name.
