After it’s 1992 release, Cabrini-Green’s Candyman is getting a reboot. MGM Studios and Universal Pictures are teaming together to bring back that the urban legend in the mirror, and they’ve announced some additional exciting news.
Jordan Peele, the creator of Get Out, will help produce the film, alongside Win Rosenfeld and Nia DaCosta, as the film’s director. DaCosta is responsible for Little Woods, starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James, which premiered this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film earned her a Nora Ephron Award.
“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 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,” Peele said via a statement.
Candyman is being dubbed a “spiritual sequel” compared to the original, which was first brought to the screen by the legendary mind of Clive Barker, originally adapted from Barker’s short story, The Forbidden.
“We cannot wait for the world to see what the mind-blowing combination of Jordan, Win and Nia bring to the legend of Candyman,” MGM Motion Picture Group president, Jonathan Glickman said. “They have created a story that will not only pay reverence to Clive Barker’s haunting and brilliant source material but is also thoroughly modern and will bring in a whole new generation of fans.”
The original Candyman followed an urban legend, as he wreaked havoc on one of Chicago’s famous public-housing project. The film’s remake is is expected to go into production soon, and will be released June 12, 2020.
