Clayface Star Used Elden Ring to Cope with Anxiety During Auditions

Ever used a video game to calm your nerves before a big moment? Clayface star Tom Rhys Harries did exactly that—by diving into Elden Ring during his screen tests for the DCU role of Matt Hagen.

In a chat with Kit Connor for Interview Magazine, Rhys Harries admitted, "I played Elden Ring to switch my brain off during the three months I was screen testing for Clayface. It probably talks to my level of anxiety throughout that period." So while he was battling The Lands Between's toughest foes, he was also battling his own nerves. Relatable, right?

Connor, who's set to lead the Elden Ring movie (and recently nabbed the Cyclops role), also shared a tidbit about his own prep. He revealed he bulked up and "got big" for his lead role. The cast includes Cailee Spaeny, Ben Whishaw, and Nick Offerman, with Alex Garland—known for his gaming love—writing and directing. Filming wrapped in July.

But back to Clayface: Rhys Harries had nothing but praise for the script by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini. "I love the script… They've built these three brilliant acts. It's almost like a Greek tragedy. There's so much depth, it just gives you scope to be exploring loads of things that feel endless because human beings are endless," he said.

And about that body horror? Recent trailers have teased his character's transformations, but Rhys Harries told Empire that the full extent won't be clear until you see it in cinemas. His verdict? "It's fucking sick!" Sounds like we're in for some genuinely disturbing stuff.

Clayface hits theaters on October 23, while the Elden Ring movie arrives on March 3, 2028. So you've got plenty of time to prepare—maybe by playing some Elden Ring yourself?

What do you think? Will you be checking out Clayface when it drops? Let us know!