Iconic horror star Tony Todd is reportedly reprising his signature role in Jordan Peele’s upcoming Candyman sequel, for the first time since 1999. It was the Candyman role that cemented Todd as a horror heavyweight, although it wasn’t his first foray into the genre. Todd took over for Duane Jones as lead survivor Ben in Tom Savini’s 1990 remake of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, and in hindsight it’s quite appropriate that Todd played one of the greatest African-American horror protagonists of all-time before transitioning into playing horror’s most feared African-American villain.
Blessed with a large, imposing physical stature and a booming, almost mesmerizing voice, Todd was perfectly cast as Candyman in director Bernard Rose’s original 1992 classic. Todd’s Candyman is most definitely a menacing monster, and never hesitates to gut unfortunate victims with his trademark hook. At the same time, Candyman is a very sympathetic character, the son of a slave who was brutally murdered after falling in love with a white woman in an age where that wasn’t tolerated, to put it mildly. Since his death, Candyman has become a legendary figure, a boogeyman who appears when his name is said five times into a mirror.
Todd would return as Candyman for both 1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s Candyman: Day of the Dead. The first sequel is generally seen as a decent, but inferior follow-up, while the second is disliked by most. Still, the problem with those films was never Todd, who continued to make the most of his scenes as the character. Now, Bloody Disgusting reports that Todd will reprise the Candyman role for Jordan Peele’s upcoming film, once described as a “spiritual sequel” and now sounding more like a direct one.
It was previously revealed by Todd himself that he would be a part of the new Peele-produced, Nia DaCosta-directed Candyman sequel, although it wasn’t clear in what capacity. When Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was cast in the film earlier this year, reports were that he was taking over the Candyman role, so many fans assumed Todd would merely appear in a cameo or some other supporting role. If Bloody Disgusting’s report is accurate, this now leaves Abdul-Mateen’s role unclear, unless of course he’s set to play a younger version of Candyman in flashback scenes. After all, as great as he still is, Todd is 20 years removed from his last outing in the franchise.
Screen Rant has reached out to both MGM and Todd’s representation for comment on this report, and we’ll update this piece should they respond. For now though, lots of Candyman fans are likely overjoyed at the thought of Todd donning the long coat and hook ensemble once again. Todd remains an imposing performer, and horror devotees probably won’t have to be convinced into being his victim.
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Source: Bloody Disgusting
- Candyman Release Date: 2021-08-27
