Kieran Culkin to Lead Voice Cast of Disney’s New Animated ‘Clay’
Disney Announces New Original Movie "Clay" Coming in 2028
The Big News
Disney Animation Studios just revealed an exciting new original film called "Clay" at their big D23 fan event! Here’s what you need to know:
Important Date: The movie hits theaters in November 2028.
Meet the Star: Kieran Culkin
Kieran Culkin will voice the main character, Flip. You might know him from:
- Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession (won an Emmy for this!)
- A Real Pain (won an Oscar for this!)
Fun Fact: Culkin is an Oscar AND Emmy winner — that’s a huge deal in Hollywood!
What’s the Movie About?
Disney’s animation chief, Jared Bush, explained the story like this:
The Setup
Disney has a long history of movies about great mentors and their students. But this time, they asked a funny question:
"What if the next Disney mentor… stunk at it?"
The Characters
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Flip | The "mentor" who isn’t very good at mentoring |
| Mushi | A literal ball of clay, born at the start of the movie — Flip’s first student |
The Adventure
- Flip gets assigned to mentor Mushi
- Flip panics and runs away in the middle of the night
- Mushi follows anyway — turns out Mushi is "inescapable and pure chaos"
- Now they’re stuck together on a journey through a fantastical forest
- Flip must keep Mushi alive while figuring out how to be a mentor
Think of it like: A grumpy expert who doesn’t want to teach, paired with a chaotic newborn made of clay who won’t take "no" for an answer!
Why This Sounds Different
Disney usually gives us wise, inspiring mentors (think Mufasa, Fairy Godmother, or Master Shifu). Flip breaks that pattern — he’s messy, reluctant, and not very good at his job. That makes him relatable and funny!
Summary
- New Disney original movie: Clay
- Release date: November 2028
- Lead voice actor: Kieran Culkin (Oscar & Emmy winner)
- Main character: Flip — a terrible mentor
- Sidekick: Mushi — a newborn ball of clay chaos
- Setting: A fantastical forest adventure
- Announced at: D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase
FAQ
When does Clay come out?
November 2028 — so you’ve got a few years to wait!
Who is Kieran Culkin?
He’s an award-winning actor best known for playing Roman Roy on Succession (Emmy winner) and starring in A Real Pain (Oscar winner).
Is this a sequel or something totally new?
Totally new! Clay is an original story, not connected to any existing Disney franchise.
What’s the movie actually about?
A bad mentor (Flip) tries to run away from his first student (Mushi, a living ball of clay), but they end up on a wild forest adventure together.
Will this be in theaters or streaming?
Theaters first! Disney Animation theatrical releases usually hit Disney+ several months later.
Bottom Line: Disney is taking a risk with a weird, funny, original idea — a mentor who fails at mentoring and a student made of clay. With Kieran Culkin’s talent and Disney’s animation magic, Clay could be something really special. Mark your calendars for November 2028!