If you're a popular enough film property, eventually you'll at least be considered for the remake/reboot treatment. Horror movies are no exception, as Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Evil Dead and others have all been re-adapted at one point. Earlier this month, it was reported that Candyman, which was released in 1992 and spawned two sequels, might be getting its own remake, with Jordan Peele, having scared audiences last year with Get Out, serving as producer. This project has yet to be officially confirmed, but Tony Todd, the man who brought Candyman to life more than 25 years ago, is game for a Candyman remake if Peele is involved. As Todd put it:
If Jordan wants to do it, do it. I know I'd rather have him do it, someone with intelligence, who's going to be thoughtful and dig into the whole racial makeup of who Candyman is and why he existed in the first place. I know he'll give homage and I know that if it gets made, I'll have a plate at the table one way or the other.
Tony Todd's resume is packed with horror credits, including the Night of the Living Dead remake, the Final Destination movies and most recently Hellfest, so he certainly knows his way around this scary genre. But Candyman is definitely one of his most well-known roles, and it sounds like Todd is confident he'll be involved with a Candyman remake in some capacity. As for the project itself, Todd sounded especially keen on Jordan Peele handling it when he spoke to Nightmare on Film Street. Peele has already proven his horror mettle with Get Out, which was one of the most profitable movies of 2017 and netted him a Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award, and he's keeping that particular horror train going next with Us (and to a lesser extent, The Twilight Zone). Even if Peele doesn't end up directing as well, Todd is confident that he's the right man to guide the property in a new, yet faithful direction.
For those unfamiliar with the original Candyman, the movie followed graduate student Helen Lyle, played by Virginia Madsen, learning about the legend of Candyman, who could be summoned by saying his name in front of a mirror five times. Originally Candyman was the son of a slave who was attacked by a lynch mob led by the father of his lover. They cut off his hand and replaced it with a right hook, and then he was stung to death by a swarm of bees, but. Not believing the legend, Helen made the mistake of repeating his name in front of the mirror, and just like all the other times Candyman been summoned, he left a trail of bodies in his wake. It remains to be seen how this remake will distinguish itself from its predecessor, although I imagine the eponymous character's background will more or less be kept intact.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any updates on if this Candyman remake will move forward. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release schedule to learn what's hitting theaters for the rest of the year.
