Nia DaCosta’s Candyman finally released its first trailer, which shed light on a major connection to the 1992 original movie: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s character, Anthony McCoy.
The director has kept tight-lipped about her movie’s secrets, especially regarding Tony Todd, who has been confirmed to be returning in some capacity, though whether or not he’ll be returning as the titular villain is unknown. Recently, news broke regarding another character’s return, Helen Lyle, who was the protagonist of Bernard Rose’s 1992 film. Though the actress who played Lyle in the first film, Virginia Madsen, has not been connected to the project, the character will be involved in some capacity and played by Cassie Kramer. Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta all share writing credits for the “spiritual sequel”, with Peele and Rosenfeld co-producing under Monkeypaw Productions.
Based on the trailer, the connections to the original movie couldn’t be clearer: Candyman is being brought back to life yet again, this time by someone with deep roots to the now-gentrified Cabrini-Green. While Helen Lyle dug deep into the Candyman’s urban legend as part of her sociological research, it seems this time, there might be more than just a passing interest, but a direct, and even spiritual, connection between Anthony McCoy and the Candyman himself.
Candyman 2020: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Character Is Anthony McCoy
In the original movie, Helen Lyle meets Anne-Marie McCoy while she’s looking into Cabrini-Green and the Candyman legend. McCoy, who has a baby son named Anthony, end up getting caught in the middle of Lyle’s research in a big way when the living legend comes to call. The Candyman kidnaps baby Anthony, deciding that it’s in his best interest to “shed innocent blood” as a direct, almost retaliatory action based on Lyle’s attempts to debunk his myth. By the end of the film, Lyle sacrifices her own life to save baby Anthony, crawling into a bonfire to rescue him, then succumbs to smoke inhalation and burns. Anne-Marie McCoy will return in Nia DaCosta’s Candyman, played by the original actress, Vanessa A. Williams. However, her now-adult son, Anthony, could be the key to the entire mystery surrounding the new movie.
Candyman’s trailer showed Anthony coming back to Cabrini-Green. His work as an artist is focused on the Candyman, much in the same way that he became Helen Lyle’s obsession, but through a different medium. However, where Lyle and Candyman shared a different sort of connection, throughout the trailer, McCoy seems to be tethered to the villain by more than just intrigue. Daniel Robitaille was originally an artist, a slave, and his tragic origin story was what gave birth to the legend. At one point during the trailer, McCoy is seen furiously painting the Candyman, and at another, seeing the Candyman’s image in his own reflection. It seems the two have spiritually bonded somehow.
Perhaps the fact that Anthony was meant to be his sacrifice caused a rift, given that Lyle’s life was exchanged for his. Or perhaps Candyman has always been connected to Anthony and chose him, specifically, to carry on his legacy. It’s been speculated that Abdul-Mateen II will play the titular role for some time, but it seems the answer to that question is both yes and no. However, the legacy tie-in between characters is a smart route for Candyman to take, as this type of angle has been proven to work before when attempting to resurrect long-standing horror franchises.
Next: What’s The Song In The Candyman 2020 Trailer?
- Candyman Release Date: 2021-08-27
