Kieran Culkin Leads Disney’s Mysterious New Animated Film ‘Clay’
Disney Announces New Original Movie "Clay" Coming in 2028
Big News! Walt Disney Animation Studios just revealed a brand-new original movie called "Clay" at their big D23 fan event. It’s scheduled to hit theaters in November 2028.
What Is "Clay" All About?
Imagine a story where the mentor (the teacher) is actually terrible at teaching — and knows it. That’s the fun twist Disney came up with!
The Main Characters
| Character | Description | Voiced By |
|---|---|---|
| Flip | A would-be mentor who "stinks" at the job. He tries to run away from his responsibilities. | Kieran Culkin (Oscar & Emmy winner!) |
| Mushi | A literal ball of clay, born the same day Flip gets assigned to mentor her. She’s "inescapable and pure chaos." | TBD |
The Story in Simple Terms
- Flip is chosen to be his village’s next great mentor.
- He gets assigned his very first student: Mushi, a living ball of clay born that exact moment.
- Like any "inspiring" mentor who’s in over his head… Flip runs away in the middle of the night.
- But Mushi follows him anyway — she’s impossible to shake!
- Now Flip must keep Mushi alive on a wild journey through a fantastical forest.
Key Idea: Disney has a long history of "inspiring mentor" stories (like The Lion King, Moana, Soul). This time, they asked: "What if the mentor was actually bad at it?" → Clay was born.
Who Is Kieran Culkin?
Fun Fact: You might know him as Roman Roy from HBO’s hit show Succession (he won an Emmy for that!). He also won an Oscar for the movie A Real Pain.
- Role in "Clay": Voices Flip, the reluctant, not-so-great mentor.
- Why it’s exciting: Culkin is known for playing sharp, funny, slightly chaotic characters — perfect for Flip!
Important Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Clay |
| Studio | Walt Disney Animation Studios |
| Release Date | November 2028 |
| Announced At | Disney’s Entertainment Showcase at D23 |
| Lead Voice Actor | Kieran Culkin (Flip) |
| Director/Writer Info | Not yet announced |
| Chief Creative Officer | Jared Bush (shared the concept) |
Why This Sounds Different (In a Good Way!)
- Original story — not a sequel, remake, or spin-off.
- Fresh twist on the classic "mentor/student" trope.
- Chaos + heart — a messy mentor + an unstoppable clay baby = comedy and emotion.
- Fantastical world — a magical forest journey means gorgeous animation potential.
- Top-tier talent — Oscar/Emmy winner leading the cast.
Summary
Disney Animation is cooking up something brand new for November 2028: an original film called "Clay". It stars Kieran Culkin (Roman Roy from Succession, Oscar winner for A Real Pain) as Flip, a mentor who’s… really bad at mentoring. His student? Mushi, a living ball of clay born the same day. Flip runs away; Mushi follows. Chaos, heart, and a fantastical forest journey ensue. Announced at D23 by Disney Animation chief Jared Bush, this flips the script on Disney’s classic "wise mentor" stories — literally asking, "What if the mentor stunk?"
FAQ
When does "Clay" come out?
November 2028. Mark your calendars!
Is this a sequel to another Disney movie?
Nope! It’s a completely original story — not connected to Frozen, Zootopia, Moana, or any existing franchise.
Who is voicing the main character?
Kieran Culkin — he won an Emmy for Succession and an Oscar for A Real Pain. He plays Flip, the reluctant mentor.
What’s the movie actually about?
Flip is picked to mentor the next generation but he’s terrible at it. His student is Mushi, a baby made of clay. Flip runs away; Mushi won’t leave him alone. They go on a wild adventure through a magical forest. Think: grumpy uncle + chaotic toddler — but one’s made of clay.
Who came up with the idea?
Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, shared the concept at D23. He said they wanted to twist the classic "inspiring mentor" trope by making the mentor… bad at it.
Stay Tuned! More details (director, full cast, trailers) will come as we get closer to 2028. For now — original Disney animation + Kieran Culkin + a clay baby? Yes, please.