Candyman Director Confirms Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Isn’t Replacing Tony Todd

The director of the upcoming Candyman “spiritual sequel” has confirmed that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will not be replacing Tony Todd in the film. Nia DaCosta spoke with Collider and shot down the early reports that Abdul-Mateen, who is playing the lead role in the new film, would be taking over the role previously played by Todd.

“Well, it’s been slightly misreported,” DaCosta said. “I can’t say what’s happening in the film because we want it to be a surprise, but he’s not replacing Tony Todd. That’s been reported, and I was just like, “I don’t know what to say about this. This is not right.”

Abdul-Mateen is starring in the film with Teyonah Parris, who plays the art dealer girlfriend of Abdul-Mateen’s character. Abdul-Mateen is playing an artist who becomes obsessed with the legend of the Candyman. There is no word on Todd possibly appearing in the film; he has said he has not yet been contacted about it but gave the film his blessing.

DaCosta is directing the film from a script by Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. The film will return to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood. It has a June 12th, 2020 release date.