It’s official: Tony Todd will return to the franchise that made him a horror icon, as he’s set to come back for the Candyman reboot. This has been one of the biggest questions on the minds of horror fans as it relates to the upcoming revamp of the classic franchise. While it certainly seems like a welcome idea to have Jordan Peele, the filmmaker behind Get Out and Us, behind just such a modern reboot, not having Todd on board would feel a bit wrong. Now, it’s been confirmed that the actor will be involved.
Tony Todd originated the role of the titular Candyman in the 1992 horror classic. The actor recently appeared at the Nickel City Con in New York. During an interview at the convention, he revealed that he has indeed been contacted by Jordan Peele and he will be featured in the upcoming movie. In what capacity remains a bit unclear, though it sounds like he’s going to get some great moments. Here’s what Todd had to say about it.
“Out of the blue I got a phone call from Jordan Peele. We’re still waiting for the contract, but the way he explained it to me was that it’s gonna be applause-worthy moments. That’s his words. No matter what happens with that, it’s gonna just put renewed attention on the original.”
This is undoubtedly good news for horror lovers. It was previously revealed that Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had been cast as the new Candyman. It hasn’t been revealed how exactly that’s going to work. Perhaps Tony Todd will be passing the torch somehow. What we know is that the new movie will center on a man in Chicago who begins to research the titular urban legend. This leads him to a now-gentrified part of the city and, inevitably, once he starts snooping around, people begin to die.
We first got wind of this particular reboot in September 2018. The idea is to have it be an entry point for modern audiences, while also keeping the original continuity intact. Lakeith Stanfield (Sorry to Bother You) is set to star in the lead role. Jordan Peele will be producing the movie through his Monkeypaw Productions company. Peele will also be contributing to the screenplay, alongside Win Rosenfeld. Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) will be in the director’s chair.
Related: Tony Todd Still Doesn’t Know If He’s in Jordan Peele’s Candyman Sequel
Candyman proved to be a hit when it was released in 1992, doing well both critically and commercially. It was based on a short story from horror legend Clive Barker. Tony Todd had previously expressed his desire to return in the reboot. Two sequels were made in the years that followed, 1995’s Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s Day of the Dead. Neither of those movies proved to be as successful as the original. As such, the franchise has been collecting dust for 20 years. The new Candyman is set to arrive in theaters on June 12, 2020. Be sure to check out the interview clip with Tony Todd from the SOFAKINGCOOLONLINE YouTube channel below.
