Director: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II isn’t replacing Tony Todd in Candyman

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Back in January, we heard that Lakeith Stanfield was in talks to star in director Nia DaCosta's "spiritual sequel" to the 1992 classic CANDYMAN. If Stanfield's deal had closed, he would have been taking on the role of Anthony,

a socially pronounced artist in Chicago who researches the urban legend of Candyman. After investigating the killer’s last known whereabouts, strange killings begin to occur around Anthony. The protagonist will serve a role similar to that of Helen Lyle, the main character of the original movie.

A month later, it was announced that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II had signed on to play the "lead role" in the new CANDYMAN – with many outlets assuming that meant the title role, which was so memorably played by Tony Todd in three films. Instead, subsequent reports have indicated that Abdul-Mateen is actually playing that Anthony character.

Speaking to Collider, DaCosta confirmed that Abdul-Mateen is not replacing Tony Todd as Candyman:

Well, it’s been slightly misreported. 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.”

However, that doesn't mean that Todd is going to be in the movie, as he has been very open about the fact that he has not been contacted about it. CANDYMAN is going to be filming soon, so if they do intend to have Todd in it they should probably let him know.

Someone who has been cast is Teyonah Parris, who will be playing Anthony's art dealer girlfriend.

Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld have written the screenplay for the film, which will 

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

Peele and Rosenfeld are also producing the film with Ian Cooper through Peele's company Monkeypaw Productions. Adam Rosenberg and Tabith Shick are overseeing the project for MGM, and that company is producing and financing. Universal will be handling domestic theatrical distribution.

The new CANDYMAN is scheduled to reach theatres on June 12, 2020.