By James White | Posted 30 May 2019

There has been a lot of interest lately in the Jordan Peele-spearheaded new take on the Candyman mythos, which has been described as both a reboot and a 'spiritual sequel'. But one key element has seemed to be lacking, at least until now: original Candyman Tony Todd. Speaking to Sofa King Cool Online at the Nickel City Convention in New York, Todd revealed that he will have a part in the film.

"I was a little concerned because there was all this chatter. Then out of the blue I got a phone call from Jordan Peele," he says. "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."

With Peele producing and co-writing with Win Rosenfeld, Nia DaCosta is on board to direct the movie, which looks to further explore the mythology of the main character made iconic by Todd in the original 1992 film. It will return to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood, as an artist in the city researches the legend of Candyman. And it's not long before strange deaths start to occur around him...

Aquaman's Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is on board as the new Candyman himself, Teyonah Parris is part of the cast and Lakeith Stanfield is in the midst of a deal to play the artist. The movie currently has a US release date set for 12 June next year.

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