That Candyman reboot is definitely happening and it’s just found a director.
Variety reports that Nia DaCosta, writer-director of Tessa Thompson-starring crime drama Little Woods, has signed on to direct the new take on Bernard Rose’s modern classic and that (as previously rumoured) Jordan Peele will produce.
The film has been set up at Universal and it’s been given a release date of 12 June 2020, with production starting in spring next year. Described as a “spiritual sequel” to the original, it “returns to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.” The 1992 film was based on a Clive Barker short story and starred Virginia Madsen as a grad student who heads to Cabrini-Green to investigate the urban legend of the Candyman, who will appear behind you if you say his name five times into a mirror. The gory horror was rich in social commentary as well as gory scares and boasted an unforgettable performance from Tony Todd in the title role.
Peele said “The original was a landmark film for black representation in the horror genre. Alongside Night Of The Living Dead, Candyman was a major inspiration for me as a filmmaker — and to have a bold new talent like Nia at the helm of this project is truly exciting. We are honored to bring the next chapter in the Candyman canon to life and eager to provide new audiences with an entry point to Clive Barker’s legend.”
There’s currently no word on casting (so no hints about whether Tony Todd will reprise his iconic role) and it’s unclear if DaCosta is also writing the script, but expect more announcements soon given that we’re just a few months from the production getting underway.
Candyman will be released on 12 June 2020. Keep up with the latest horror news with the new issue of SciFiNow.
