Last month it was reported that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was in talks to join writer and producer Jordan Peele‘s spiritual sequel to Candyman. At the time it sounded like Abdul-Mateen II would be taking over the title role played by Tony Todd in the 1992 original and all of its sequels, but apparently that is not the case.

Director Nia DaCosta spoke briefly about the spiritual sequel recently, and revealed that Abdul-Mateen II actually wasn’t replacing Todd as the new Candyman. See what she had to say below.

One big question about Jordan Peele‘s spiritual sequel to the 1992 horror classic Candyman, was whether original star Tony Todd would return to once again play the iconic title role or if someone new would be cast.

Now it appears we have an answer. It’s being reported that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has entered into negotiations to play the new Candyman in the movie.

Slowly but surely the spiritual sequel to Candyman, which is being produced by Jordan Peele, is coming into focus. Last year, the film started by hiring Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) to act as director.

And now, they may have found a big star. According to a new report, Sorry To Bother You star Lakeith Stanfield is being eyed to appear in the film. More on the report below.

Each year for over a decade and half, the New York City Horror Film Festival has handed out its Lifetime Achievement Award to an icon of horror cinema. The festival was created and organized by the late Michael J. Hein back in 2002 and the first two recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award were George A. Romero and Tom Savini.

Perhaps fittingly this year’s recipient was Tony Todd, who broke into the horror genre in Savini’s 1990 remake of Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead. Two years later, he became a true horror legend when he played the titular hook-handed Candyman in Bernard Rose’s film based on the Clive Barker story The Forbidden. Since then Todd has used his massive 6’5″ frame, size-16 shoe, and deep voice to leave a lasting impression on the horror industry with appearances in the Final Destination franchise, Hatchet 1 & 2, Masters of Horror, and more. Saturday night at the Cinepolis Chelsea, The Candyman showed up to a sell-out crowd (with probably 50+ others standing in the aisle) to accept his award and partake in a Q&A.

Well, that didn’t take long. After it was reported that Jordan Peele would be acting as a producer on a new Candyman spiritual sequel, there is now a new director attached.

Reports confirm Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) will help bring back Candyman, who has been played by Tony Todd in previous installments, to the big screen. More on the report below,