Sadly, even if you go in front of a mirror and say his name five times, the “Candyman” film written by Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta isn’t going to appear anytime soon. In fact, the film is going to have been delayed more than a full year when it finally hits theaters, as Universal has unveiled the new date for its highly-anticipated horror film.
According to Variety, Universal has set August 27, 2021, as the date when the studio hopes “Candyman” can arrive in cinemas. The horror film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (who seems to be finding himself attached to some of the best projects out there) alongside Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Colman Domingo, Tony Todd, and Vanessa Estelle Williams. While not a true remake or an immediate sequel to the original franchise, DaCosta’s “Candyman” is more of a spiritual sequel that finds a new cast of characters coming to grips with the urban legend that haunts you after you say his name five times into a mirror.
Originally slated for release in June of this year, “Candyman” was eventually delayed to October. Then the film was removed from the schedule back in September and no new date was given. However, now it appears that Universal is ready to try again at the end of next summer.
This is yet another major film that has seen delays of more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike other horror films, however, “Candyman” has stuck to its plan of a theatrical release and hasn’t been shipped to some streaming platform. Unfortunately, with the direction theater chains are going in, with AMC hinting at possible bankruptcy and local, independent cinemas on the verge of shuttering for good, who knows what the landscape is going to look like when “Candyman” is supposed to arrive on August 27, 2021.