Jordan Peele reveals why he didn’t direct Candyman

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

When the first trailer for the CANDYMAN spiritual sequel/reboot was dropped, it was quickly noted that the film felt like a Jordan Peele release. Peele is attached as an executive producer and writer on the project so it makes sense that the marketing aesthetic looked very similar to GET OUT & US. You wouldn't be wrong to assume that Peele would also be directing the project but he decided to let Nia DaCosta sit in the director's chair on this one because he felt he was a little too close to the original film.

In a recent interview with "Empire", Peele opened up about deciding not to direct CANDYMAN himself and why he ultimately thought DaCosta was a perfect choice:

"I was working on Us when this would have happened. But quite honestly, Nia is better to shoot this than I am. I'm way too obsessed with the original tales in my head. I probably wouldn't be any good. But Nia has a steady manner about her which you don't see a lot in the horror space. She's refined, elegant, every shot is beautiful. It's a beautiful, beautiful movie. I'm so glad I didn't mess it up."

DaCosta is a newcomer and relatively unknown in the industry, making her own acclaimed directorial debut with 2018's crime-thriller LITTLE WOODS starring Tessa Thompson. DaCosta has spoken up about the importance of having a team of black artists both in front of and behind the camera, to best continue this classic story features the rarity of a black bogeyman at its center:

"There is definitely a sense of taking ownership, and telling a Black story about Black people. It was very important for all of us to have our main character be Black, and for this experience to be through the Black lens. Let's make sure we change the lens now."

CANDYMAN is being described as a spiritual sequel to the 1992 film that starred Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen. Co-written by Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and Nia DaCosta, the new film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo & Tony Todd & Vanessa Estelle Williams, both returning from the original horror classic. Not much is known about the new film except that the story returns to the now-gentrified Chicago neighborhood where the Candyman legend began.

With Peele on board even as a co-writer, I'm all in on this film and I trust his judgment on banking on new talent. The first trailer was promising and since Peele is also a fan, I'm sure his influence meshed well with the fresh talents of DaCosta. 

Are YOU interesting in seeing the film? CANDYMAN hits screens on September 25, 2020, after recently vacating its original June 12 release due to COVID-19.