The poster for the 2020 reboot of Candyman is revealed, with the first trailer set to be released on Thursday. Written and directed by Bernard Rose, the original Candyman film was released in 1992. Based on a short story, “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker, the film began by following the character of Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen). A graduate student in sociology, Helen conducts work on urban legends, which leads her down the trail of Candyman – the son of a slave who was murdered in the 19th century. She soon fears that the legend of Candyman might be real. Two sequels followed and, in the years since it released, the film has been viewed as a modern horror classic.
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The possibility of revisiting Candyman gained new traction in 2018 when it was announced that Jordan Peele was in talks to bring back the character. The project moved quickly into development – no doubt helped by Peele’s success with Get Out. While specific plot details about the reboot, which has been described as a spiritual sequel, remain slim, some important facts are known. Tony Todd, famous for portraying Candyman, will be involved in this latest installment. Madsen is also part of the cast, though it’s been reported that she will be playing a different character than Helen Lyle. New additions to the franchise include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as an artist investigating Candyman’s legend. Colman Domingo and Teyonah Parris also star.
Beyond the fact that toxicity fandom will be explored, and the setting of the first film will factor into the story, what shape the reboot will take remains a mystery. With the release of the poster for the 2020 reboot of Candyman, along with a quick tease courtesy of producer and co-writer Peele, fans have a fresh glimpse into the updated version of the horror staple. A trailer will arrive on Thursday. But, for now, check out the poster and Peele’s tweet below.
I dare you to say his name.
Click below to tweet #Candyman 5 times in one post. @CandymanMovie will haunt your feed with an exclusive first look. See the trailer on Thursday.
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) February 25, 2020
The reboot will be directed by Nia DaCosta. DaCosta’s debut film Little Woods, a western thriller about two sisters who get caught up in the illegal drug trade, starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James. For Candyman, Peele co-wrote the script, along with Win Rosenfeld.
Given the interest Peele’s name brings to a project, along with the original’s enduring legacy, the trailer will certainly receive some scrutiny. Part of the reboot’s appeal at the moment is that it’s acknowledging the original, with the inclusion of Todd and Madsen, while also grappling with a concept as relatively recent as toxic and harmful fandom. The trailer for the Candyman reboot should highlight just enough to keep the intrigue going without falling into the trap that other trailers do of showing too much.
Source: Jordan Peele
- Candyman (2020)Release date: Jun 12, 2020
