Disney Fantasy And DC Comics Clayface Nearly Collide in New Brighton on Magical Day

It’s the stuff of dreams for UK superhero and Disney fans. A Disney cruise boat sailing by a DC Comics film set. That’s exactly what was going to happen in the seaside town of New Brighton yesterday, but adverse weather meant that UK fans would get to glimpse only one US powerhouse from the promenade.

As we reported earlier in the week, the Disney Fantasy was rerouted and missed docking in Liverpool due to bad weather. But the theme of fantasy was definitely in the air in New Brighton on September 11, 2025 as filming for the new DC Comics movie Clayface closed the promenade road.

Now, it could be said that Clayface with his transformative powers affected the weather to divert the ship so DC Comics could have New Brighton all to themselves. A villainous DC foe vs the magic of Dumbo and the Disney Fantasy, however that could be going a bit too far. But September 11 does seem to be a magical day in New Brighton.

A Magical Day

For two consecutive years, September 11 has brought a touch of magic to this little seaside town on the Wirral. On September 11 2024, the prom was full of people hoping to catch a glimpse of the Disney Dream sailing out of Liverpool. But this year, rather than Disney magic, it was DC magic capturing the attention of the crowds, as the main street transformed into Gotham.

Filming for the new Clayface movie took part over night and into the early hours of the morning on September 12, with King’s Parade scheduled to be closed until about 1pm.

Transforming into Gotham

As part of the UK’s longest promenade, which stretches around 3.5 miles, transformed into Gotham there was definitely a sense of movie magic in the air.

For anyone local to the Wirral and New Brighton area, the sight of the Chick’n Hut changed to Len’s Chicken, hot dog stands, and a Gotham Ica Cream shop was exciting. The speed and magic with which the film crews props team worked was nothing short of amazing to complete the transformation

A Tale of Two Fantasies

Its hard not to smile at the coincidence of these two movie making giants being scheduled to pass through a small Wirral town on the same day. Last year, people were drawn to the water’s edge. This year the Fantasy was meant to appear as part of her first ever year in British waters and visiting Liverpool. Instead the spotlight shifted solely to the fantasy of Gotham city. Two very different kinds of fantasy, both sparking wonder in their own unique way for UK fans.

And maybe that’s the real magic here: whether it’s spotting Disney ship icons such as Dumbo on the Fantasy, keeping your fingers crossed to hear the legendary Cruise ship horn, or catching a glimpse of movie magic as Batman’s rogues take over the seaside promenade. New Brighton has found itself at a crossroads of global fantasy storytelling.

A Growing Stage for Movie Magic

What’s certain is that the Wirral has become an unlikely stage in the stories that both Disney and DC Comics tell. From individual cruise stories to huge Hollywood productions, the area is proving that the magic doesn’t just happen in London or Los Angeles.

Looking Ahead

Whether you’re a Disney devotee, a DC die-hard, or just someone who loves seeing New Brighton in the spotlight, the second week in September has some magic in New Brighton. And what about next year?

The Disney Dream is scheduled to return to Liverpool on September 9th, 2026. You can see the itinerary or book direct with Disney Cruise Line in the UK. But who knows what other magic may occur….

Until then, New Brighton can proudly claim that it’s hosted fans for two of the biggest names in entertainment, Disney and DC, with each brand leaving their own kind of magic by the Mersey.