As the Jordan Peele-produced new take on Candyman continues to develop, it looks as if the picture is close to landing its titular Daniel Robitaille.

Courtesy of Variety, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is now in talks to play Candyman in what’s being pegged as a “spiritual sequel”. Abdul-Mateen II is best known to genre fans for playing the nefarious Black Manta in last year’s all-kinds-of-impressive Aquaman.

The last we’d heard on this next Candyman offering, Get Out’s Lakeith Stanfield was rumoured to be playing a character called Anthony. Said to be similar to Virginia Madsen’s Helen Lyle from the original Candyman, murders begin to happen around Anthony as he continues to delve into the urban legend of the Candyman. Interestingly, Anthony is actually the name of the baby featured in the 1992 film.

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.

To be directed by Little Woods’ Nia DaCosta, MGM has set a June 12th, 2020 release date for this new entry in Candyman lore.