Disney's 'Clay' Officially Announced with Kieran Culkin at D23
Walt Disney Animation Studios closed out its presentation at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event by pulling back the curtain on its next major original feature film: Clay.
Walt Disney Animation Studios closed out its presentation at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event by pulling back the curtain on its next major original feature film: Clay.
Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush took the stage at the Honda Center to announce the project, confirming a Thanksgiving theatrical release window in November 2028. Alongside the title reveal, Disney unveiled initial concept art and announced that Emmy and Oscar-winning star Kieran Culkin will head the voice cast.
What Is ‘Clay’ About?
Pitching the film to attendees, Bush joked about Disney Animation’s long tradition of iconic, wisdom-dispensing mentor figures—like Merlin in The Sword in the Stone or Phil in Hercules—before flipping the trope completely on its head.
“We asked ourselves one very important question: What if the next Disney mentor stunk?” Bush shared. “And he does, and his name is Flip.”
The story centers on Flip (voiced by Kieran Culkin), a reluctant and completely unsuited mentor who gets chosen during an annual ritual to guide a young, impressionable ball of clay named Mooshy. When Flip panics and tries to run away in the middle of the night, he discovers his sticky new charge is virtually inescapable. The unlikely pair end up stranded in a vibrant, sprawling fantasy forest, sparking what Disney describes as a “chaotic, funny, and ultimately life-changing adventure”.
Creative Team & First Look
The first-look concept art shown to D23 attendees revealed a brightly colored fantasy setting, featuring Flip leaping alongside Mooshy through an enchanted, lush landscape.
Voice Cast: Kieran Culkin (Succession, A Real Pain) as Flip.
Director: Fawn Veerasunthorn (Hexed, Wish).
Producer: Oscar-winner Peter Del Vecho (Frozen, Raya and the Last Dragon).
Release Date: November 2028.
Additional voice talent and plot details will be revealed as the film progresses further into production ahead of its 2028 debut.
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