CANDYMAN Reboot Booked in for 2020 Release

Only a matter of months ago, we first heard rumblings of Jordan Peele possibly tackling a remake of Candyman, and now comes some more solid details on the do-over.

This new film has been confirmed to be a “spiritual sequel” to Bernard Rose’s Candyman. The tale will return to the now-gentrified area of Chicago that formerly housed the Cabrini-Green projects.

While Peele is producing this new Candyman through his Monkeypaw Productions banner, many had hoped that the Get Out director would be helming this effort himself. Now though, we know that Little Woods’ Nia DaCosta will be on directing duties. Peele and Win Rosenfield are putting together the screenplay for the picture.

On this news, Peele enthused, “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 honoured 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.”

Candyman itself actually began life as a short story in Clive Barker’s Books of Blood. Originally titled The Forbidden, the story was famously adapted as a 1992 Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen-starring movie from Bernard Rose. Plot-wise, the movie version took place in the aforementioned semi-demolished housing development in Chicago. Todd’s Candyman was an artist and the son of a slave, murdered by bees by his lover’s father after first having his hand lopped off.

From there, the urban legend of the Candyman is that if you say his name five times while looking in the mirror, he’ll appear behind you – and likely slice you up good ‘n’ proper. Sequels followed with 1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s Candyman: Day of the Dead, and despite mild rumblings over the decades, the franchise has remained dead since that ’99 effort.

At this stage, MGM has set a June 12th, 2020 release date for this new entry in Candyman lore.