Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman ... Pay attention, we summoned him. For the new number of Total Film , we sat down with the creators of the new Candyman, a" spiritual sequel "to the iconic 1992 original.
The new film's lead is Yahya Abdul-Mateen, best known for his roles in Jordan Peele 's Us and HBO's Watchmen series. We know surprisingly little about his role as Candyman, so we interviewed the actor in his character Anthony McCoy, a painter living in Chicago.
" He graduated from art school and was hailed as the next big hit ", says Abdul-Mateen. let's find a moment after this moment has eluded him and he seeks inspiration. He returns to Cabrini-Green in search of a story. Things start happening around him and he is drawn for a reason strange pressure on his professional relationses and his personal relationships. "
If you paid close attention to what Abdul-Mateen was saying, you would have noticed that he said that Anthony is 'going back to Cabrini-Green', and there it is that the 'spiritual sequel' comes in - Anthony was the baby that Candyman took and used as bait in the original film. Now all grown up (and with this film wisely ignoring that 1995's Candyman: Farewell To The Flesh and Candyman: Day Of The Dead from 1999 never existed), he goes back to where he was born, in search of inspiration. What he finds instead ... let's just say it'll be a big hook for viewers.
Cabrini-Green is now a very different perspective than the first film. With a major redevelopment carried out since the late 90s, high-rise buildings dominate. "Gentrification is an act of modern violence," says director Nia DaCosta, addressing one of the main themes of her film. "We are exploring how this affects Cabrini-Green and the people who live there. "
Abdul-Mateen agrees. "It's a story about others, a story about strangers against insiders, on what happens when intruders come in and the consequences of that, "he says. the threat of gentrification is a horror story in itself, the displaced people, and all of a sudden the faces are different, and things that were previously easy and familiar become distant and difficult. This is a great opportunity for Candyman to haunt new faces. What happens when the ghost stays, but that the people he haunts change? Is this monster motivated by the same things? And what is the answer to that?
Candyman is slated to open in theaters on October 16, 2020. To learn more about the film, grab a copy of the new issue of Total Film magazine - which hits shelves both real and digital from this Friday, August 21.
(Image credit: Total Film) If you are a fan of Total Film magazine, why not subscribe so you never miss a problem? Register via MyFavouriteMagazines , and with our latest offer, you'll get a one-year subion at half the price! Plus, you'll also get exclusive subscriber-only covers like the one from Candyman which is currently on its way to subscribers. (Terms and conditions apply, follow the link for details.)
