Kieran Culkin Clay: Disney Unveils a Bold New Animated Movie for 2028

Animation

Kieran Culkin Clay takes Disney into bold new territory as the actor leads Clay, an unusual animated adventure arriving in November 2028.

Kieran Culkin will voice the lead in Disney’s original animated movie Clay, arriving in November 2028.
Clay follows a mentor tasked with protecting a living, moldable ball of clay through a fantastical forest.
The unusual concept marks a bold creative gamble for Disney beyond its established franchises and sequels.
Culkin enters the project after A Real Pain and Succession, alongside upcoming role in The Hunger Games.
Disney also revealed Zootopia 3 and Hexed, while Pixar showcased Incredibles 3 and Coco 2 at D23.

Disney is taking a creative swing with Kieran Culkin Clay, announcing that the Oscar-winning actor will lead the voice cast of Clay, an original animated movie set for November 2028.

The project was revealed at Disney's D23 fan event by Disney Animation's Jared Bush. Clay follows a man chosen to become a mentor, only to discover that his student is a living, moldable ball of clay. Together, they must survive a dangerous journey through a fantastical forest.

The unusual premise immediately separates the Clay Disney movie from Disney's growing collection of sequels and established franchises. Rather than returning to a familiar character, the studio is betting on a completely new world and a strange central character that audiences have never seen before.

For Culkin, the role comes at a powerful moment in his career. He won the 2025 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and a Golden Globe for A Real Pain. His performance as Roman Roy in HBO's Succession also earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Now, the Clay movie gives Culkin another challenge: carrying a major animated story without appearing on screen.

The actor's schedule is already packed. He will appear as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, taking over a role previously played by Stanley Tucci. He is also attached to Nancy Meyers' upcoming Warner Bros. movie, expected in 2027.

Disney is clearly building a busy animation pipeline. D23 also brought news of Zootopia 3 and fresh casting for Hexed, with Jodie Foster and Walton Goggins joining Hailee Steinfeld. Pixar added further firepower with Incredibles 3 and Coco 2.

That is the real gamble. Familiar franchises come with built-in audiences, while Clay must earn attention from the ground up. Yet its strange premise could become exactly what makes it memorable.

The Kieran Culkin Clay project now has time to build anticipation before its November 2028 release. Business Honor asks will audiences be ready to follow a hero made of clay into an entirely new world or will Disney's bold experiment fall short?