Kieran Culkin Signs On for Disney’s Animated Adventure ‘Clay’

Kieran Culkin is trading the drama of HBO’s ‘Succession’ for voice acting, landing the lead role in Disney’s upcoming animated film ‘Clay’. The studio announced the casting at D23, with the film set to hit theaters in November 2028.

The original animated feature follows an unconventional pairing: a man thrust into a mentor role he’s clearly not equipped for, paired with his unlikely student a sentient, moldable ball of clay. The unlikely duo embarks on a fantastical journey through a magical forest, with the mentor responsible for keeping his peculiar companion alive.

“It’s a setup that gives the film a distinctive fairy-tale feel while leaving plenty of room for humor and heart,” a source familiar with the project noted.

For Culkin, the role marks a return to voice acting after his previous work on ‘Animal Farm’. The actor has been increasingly selective with his projects since ‘Succession’ wrapped, mixing dramatic roles with comedy and animation work.

‘Clay’ stands out in Disney’s slate as an original creation rather than an adaptation of an existing franchise a rarer occurrence for the animation studio in recent years. The film is part of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ broader push to balance new intellectual property alongside its franchise tentpoles.

As development moves forward, Disney is expected to reveal more details about the film’s director, full voice cast, and production team. For now, Culkin’s involvement suggests the studio is betting on fresh storytelling and established talent to make ‘Clay’ a standout animated feature when it arrives in theaters in 2028.