It’s hard to know what exactly is going on with director Nia DaCosta‘s Candyman, which has been described as a “spiritual sequel” to the original film. It had initially been reported that Aquaman actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had been cast to play the new Candyman, and though he has indeed been cast in the movie, DaCosta recently clarified that report.

“Well, it’s been slightly misreported,” DaCosta told Collider. “I can’t say what’s happening in the film because we want it to be a surprise, but he’s not replacing Tony Todd. That’s been reported, and I was just like, “I don’t know what to say about this. This is not right.’”

DaCosta’s tease of a surprise seemed to suggest that maybe Tony Todd will make some kind of appearance in the new movie after all, but that hasn’t exactly been 100% confirmed yet. That being said, Todd did recently note that he’s talked with co-writer/producer Jordan Peele about the film, teasing that “the fans are going to be happy” with next year’s movie.

In a more recent chat with Sofa King Cool, Todd makes similar comments.

“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,” Peele told the YouTube channel. He added, “No matter what happens with that, it’s gonna just put renewed attention on the original.”

Sounds like whatever is being planned, it will remain a secret for the time being.

If Beale Street Could Talk actress Teyonah Parris will reportedly play the girlfriend of an art dealer obsessed with the legend of Candyman in the film.

The new movie returns to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.

Jordan Peele wrote the script with Win Rosenfeld.

MGM will bring Candyman back to life on June 12, 2020.