Jordan Peele to Co-write sequel to Horror Film “Candyman”

MGM Pictures and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions are bringing back Candyman.

The 1992 horror classic, Candyman, based on the short story The Forbidden written by Clive Barker is making its way back to the big screen. The news that the hook-wielding killer who appears after his name is said five times by a person facing a mirror is back was announced by MGM Motion Picture Group president Jonathan Glickman Tuesday.

Peele is writing the script alongside Win Rosenfeld and the re-imagined horror pic will be directed by Nic DaCosta.

“We cannot wait for the world to see what the mind-blowing combination of Jordan, Win, and Nia bring to the legend of Candyman,” said Glickman in a statement. “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.”

According to Deadline, the film will be a “spiritual sequel” to the original, returning to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.

“The original was a landmark film for black representation in the horror genre,” said Peele. “Alongside Night of the Living Dead, Candyman was a major inspiration for me as a 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.”