The tale of Candyman originated in a short story written by well-known horror writer Clive Barker called The Forbidden before being turned into the 1992 film starring Tony Todd as the titular spirit. The film adapted the story from its English roots to fit into the inner-city of Chicago and address the issues of race and class in America. It's in this vein that the new film picks up and continues the legend of the hook-handed spirit known as the Candyman. Here are 5 thing you need to know before you check out the latest installment for yourself.
Premise
The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who fans may recognize from Aquaman, and The Trial of the Chicago 7, as Anthony McCoy. McCoy is an artist who becomes enthralled with the legend of the Candyman after moving into the gentrified neighborhood of Cabrini, which used to serve as the infamous spirit's haunting grounds, with his art gallery director girlfriend Brianna Cartwright. In pursuit of his art career, McCoy falls deep into the sinister myth of the Candyman as he attempts to maintain his spiraling sanity in the process.
Also among the cast is Tony Todd reprising his role as the titular Candyman. Todd previously played Daniel Robitaille, aka the Candyman, in the original film as well as the two sequels. Teyonah Parris plays Brianna in the film, and Colman Domingo plays William Burke, the man who tells McCoy the Candyman legend and serves as a sort of local historian of the pre-gentrified area formally known as Cabrini Green. As part of the overall story, one of the key themes of the film is gentrification and the alienation of a community from its source.
Sequel, NOT a Remake
It's important to note that the new installment of the franchise is not actually a remake but a direct sequel to the original Candyman. This is the same model used by 2018's Halloween, where the new installment ignores the franchise's previous sequels and focuses solely on the original, continuing its story in the present. Since there were plans in the early 2000s to do either a fourth Candyman movie (either a sequel or prequel film), there is potentially some confusion about where 2021's Candyman falls within the series' continuity. It's also confirmed that this movie directly follows the 1992 film Candyman and the two entries will serve as the official canon for the franchise.
Director - Nia DaCosta
Nia DaCosta is the director behind the new Candyman film. Marvel fans may recognize the name as DaCosta is helming the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel The Marvels. She also is one of the three co-writers of Candyman. Since the movie is a Monkeypaw Productions film, some people may assume that Jordan Peele is the director, so it's important to note that the director is actually DaCosta. She secured the job based on her reputation for delivering refined, elegant, and steady work and for being well-suited to the horror genre overall, but to Candyman in particular. DaCosta continues to steadily promote and support the film through social engagement initiatives and press tours.
Writer/Producer - Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele has earned a reputation as a master of the horror genre with his previous two films: Get Out and Us. While Peele served as the sole writer and director of those films, he's a writer and producer only on Candyman, having championed Nia DaCosta and the rest of the movie's cast and crew as they worked to bring the movie to life. Peele also served as a writer, producer, and actor for The Twilight Zone, on which he also did not work as a director. While Peele's involvement is certainly valuable to Candyman, it is once again worth reiterating that he didn't call the shots himself.
Release Information
Candyman saw its original release date delayed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and was initially slated to arrive in theaters on June 12, 2020. The film was then rescheduled for Sept. 25 and Oct. 16 that same year before ultimately moving back to Aug. 27, 2021. Candyman finally has tickets for sale and is releasing as a theater-exclusive prior to its launch on-demand and streaming.
Alongside the film's release, Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Pictures set up the Social Impact Initiative with the intention of further exploring themes of the film. The concept behind the initiative is to help fans better understand and explore Black culture and the legend of the Candyman character and franchise. The website includes informational resources, round table discussions, and many other fascinating details to expand the scope of the movie beyond the silver screen.