Candyman is simultaneously one of the best and most underrated horror films of the 1990s, and though the 1992 movie spawned two sequels in the decade, the franchise has been dormant since 1999. But that’s about to change, as a new Candyman reboot/sequel is on the way.
MGM, which has been on fire lately with their recent Child’s Play reboot and RoboCop sequel announcements, is partnering with Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions to make a new “spiritual sequel” to Candyman. Peele himself is penning the script alongside Monkeypaw President Win Rosenfeld, and they’ve tapped Little Woods director Nia DaCosta to direct. The sequel is set to return to the same Chicago neighborhood where the original film took place, which has now been gentrified; its housing projects no longer in use.
“The original was a landmark film for black representation in the horror genre,” Peele said in a statement, according to Collider. “Alongside Night of the Living Dead, Candyman was a major inspiration for me as 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.”
At this point, it’s unclear whether Tony Todd would reprise his iconic role of Candyman. With the movie being a “spiritual sequel,” it may lean more into reboot territory and cast a new actor in the role. Then again, with the film returning to the same — albeit changed — neighborhood from the first movie, then maybe Todd could be returning after all. In any case, you might want to start covering up all the mirrors in your home, because the next Candyman is set for release on June 12, 2020.
