MGM has partnered with Monkeypaw Productions’ Jordan Peele & Win Rosenfeld to produce a re-imagining of the 1992 horror film Candyman. Originally adapted from Clive Barker’s short story The Forbidden. The film is being touted as a “spiritual sequel” to the original and returns to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood. Production is set to begin Spring 2019. Universal Pictures will release Candyman theatrically in the U.S. on June 12, 2020.

Newcomer Nia DaCosta has been hired to direct. DaCosta’s feature film debut, Little Woods, starring Tessa Thompson and Lily James had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival this year and earned her the coveted Nora Ephron Award.

Peele wrote and directed the critically claimed Get Out which earned $250M worldwide for Universal Pictures. The film received four Academy Awards nominations including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture and earned Peele the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

“We cannot wait for the world to see what the mind blowing combination of Jordan, Win and Nia bring to the legend of Candyman. They have created a story that will not only pay reverence to Clive Barker’s haunting and brilliant source material but is also thoroughly modern and will bring in a whole new generation of fans,” said MGM president Jonathan Glickman.

“The original was a landmark film for black representation in the horror genre. Alongside Night of the Living Dead, Candyman was a major inspiration for me as filmmaker — and to have a bold new talent like Nia at the helm of this project is truly exciting. We are honored to bring the next chapter in the Candyman canon to life and eager to provide new audiences with an entry point to Clive Barker’s legend,” said Peele.

So is the world ready for a new take on a film that is 26 years old? The original was a minor hit and has a cult following today. And I will say that after seeing Get Out it will be interesting to see what Jordan Peele’s take on this film will be. Guess we will have to wait till June 12th 2020 to find out.

About Metro Goldwyn Mayer

Metro Goldwyn Mayer is a leading entertainment company focused on the production and global distribution of film and television content across all platforms. The company owns one of the world’s deepest libraries of premium film and television content. In addition, MGM has investments in numerous television channels. For more information, visit www.mgm.com
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Incorporated
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. TM & © 2000-2018 All Rights Reserved TM & © 2000-2018 All Rights Reserved
www.mgm.com
.

About Monkeypaw Productions

Founded in 2012 by Jordan Peele, Monkeypaw Productions cultivates artistic, thought-provoking projects across film, television and digital platforms. The company is committed to groundbreaking storytelling, visionary world-building and the unpacking of contemporary social issues. Monkeypaw Productions champions artistic collaborations with unique and traditionally underrepresented voices.