Lights, Camera, Action in the North West: How Clayface is Turning Merseyside into Gotham for a New Generation
Imagine stepping out of your front door in New Brighton and finding yourself in the shadowy streets of Gotham City. That's exactly what's been happening across Wirral and Merseyside this month, as Hollywood's latest blockbuster, Clayface, transforms Merseyside’s everyday landmarks into a DC Universe playground. For young people dreaming of the silver screen, this isn't just a movie shoot, it's a front-row seat to the magic of filmmaking, right here in our backyard.
The buzz started earlier this month when film crews from Warner Bros rolled into town, turning Birkenhead Town Hall into a gritty Gotham hotspot. According to local reports, the historic building, complete with its grand Victorian architecture, was dressed up as a key location for the film's eerie scenes.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Crews have been spotted everywhere from the old Birkenhead tunnel entrance on Rendel Street to the Seacombe Ferry Terminal, where a massive bridge set was built for one of the movie's big action sequences.
Over in New Brighton, streets like Tollemache Road got a full American makeover, with houses decked out as suburban hideouts and even a Ferris wheel popping up at Adventureland for some carnival chaos.
At the heart of it all is Tom Rhys Harries, the Welsh actor stepping into the slimy shoes of Clayface himself—the shapeshifting Batman villain who's as tragic as he is terrifying. Joining him are heavy-hitters like Naomi Ackie (from The Batman) and Max Minghella, bringing star power that has locals snapping pics from behind the barriers.
Tom Rhys Harries, playing Clayface
Filming kicked off with prep days on September 8, ramping up to late-night shoots on the 11th that wrapped around 5:30 a.m., followed by set strikes the next day.
Road closures on Marine Promenade meant some disrupted commutes, but residents have been buzzing about the excitement—think Batman superfans like 19-year-old Conor McReynolds, who called the Liverpool sets "like being in Gotham for real."
And it's not stopping at the peninsula. Liverpool's iconic spots, from the Pier Head to Derby Square and even the old Merseyside Police HQ, have all been Gotham-ified, making this the 23rd major blockbuster to film here.
With a release slated for 2026, Clayface is shaping up to be the third big entry in the rebooted DC Universe, and Merseyside is stealing the spotlight.