Nia DaCosta's take on Candyman delivered quite a buzz to the horror community after the release of its highly-anticipated trailer, which revealed some connections to the original 1992 movie. While Tony Todd has been confirmed to have some involvement with the production - and many are hopeful he'll reprise the titular role - there have been other, interesting connections that really showcase how this film will bring actors and characters back for what has been described as a "spiritual sequel".
Due in June, Candyman will return to the now-gentrified Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago, where the story first began. DaCosta, who directed the film, worked alongside producer and co-writer Jordan Peele along with Win Rosenfeld, who also lent his talents to the script. Peele is known for his contributions in "social horror" with smash hits Get Out and Us. DaCosta wrote and directed her debut film, Little Woods, and received critical acclaim for the 2018 film. Rosenfeld is the president of Peele's MonkeyPaw Productions, and is known for Black KkKlansman.
Speculation regarding Todd's role in the film has been fueling the horror community, and Candyman is arguably one of the biggest horror movies of the year. The film's cast includes Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, and Vanessa A. Williams, who was connected to the original film, and could be featured in a big way.
How Candyman 2020's Actors & Characters Connect To The Original Movie
The connection between Candyman and its titular villain is obvious, though the trailer cleverly hides how he might return. The strongest link between the Candyman himself and the new movie lies within Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's character: Anthony McCoy. In the trailer, McCoy is shown to be an artist who is trying to honor the legend of the Candyman through his artwork. He cites a connection to Cabrini-Green, and through his obsession with the legend - which is similar to Helen Lyle's character in the first movie - he brings him back to life. However, the legacy of Candyman goes deeper than that.
Vanessa A. Williams, who played Anne-Marie McCoy in the first film, was a resident of the Cabrini-Green housing projects when she met Helen Lyle. As Lyle dug deeper into the Candyman's urban legend, McCoy was caught in the crossfire, which resulted in her baby - Anthony - being stolen by Candyman. Anthony was saved by Lyle, who succumbed to her burn injuries after going into a fire for his rescue. Helen Lyle became part of Candyman's story, joining him in the afterlife, though her character has been confirmed to be returning to the 2020 movie in some capacity. Virginia Madsen has not been confirmed, and Cassie Kramer has been cast in the role of Helen Lyle.
In Candyman's trailer, a woman appears during a few scenes at an art gallery; while she could be Lyle, as she does bear a resemblance to Madsen, this woman appears to be very much alive, and even seems to become one of the titular villain's victims. While all of these mysteries will eventually be revealed, Candyman is dedicated to keeping the original legend alive, and execute the original story in a way that pays homage to its past, roots, and the beloved characters that made the franchise what it is today.
