‘Candyman’ Reimagining Has Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Talks for Lead Role

Feb 26, 2019

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is in talks to play the lead role in ‘Candyman.’ The film is a spiritual sequel, and will return to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood.

Abdul-Mateen was recently in the blockbuster ‘Aquaman’ as the villain Black Manta. He was another villain in Netflix’s ‘The Get Down.’ Next, he will be seen in Jordan Peele’s ‘Us,’ releasing March 22, and Damon Lindelof’s ‘Watchmen’ series, which will release later this year on HBO.

Moreover, Super Bro Movies gave a report last month on a different actor in talks for the same role: Lakeith Stanfield.

The description for the lead role:

“Anthony, a socially pronounced artist in Chicago begins to research the urban legend of Candyman. After investigating the killer’s last known whereabouts, strange killings begin to occur around Anthony. The protagonist will serve a role similar to that of Virginia Madsen’s character Helen Lyle, from the original 1992 movie.”

Further, Nia DaCosta (‘Little Woods’) will be directing. The screenplay is from Jordan Peele (‘Get Out,’ ‘Us’) and his MonkeyPaw producer Win Rosenfeld.

Universal will release the film domestically on June 12, 2020.

Source: Variety and Super Bro Movies