'Candyman' Trailer's Subtle Nods to the Horror Classic

The appearance of franchise star Vanessa Williams suggests that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is playing the baby from the 1992 film.
Universal on Thursday debuted the highly anticipated first trailer for Candyman, satisfying the sweet tooth of horror fans everywhere.
Directed by Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) and written Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld, the upcoming film is a “spiritual sequel” to Bernard Rose’s cult classic Candyman (1992), itself based on the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. Since the film’s announcement in 2018, there has been speculation over how closely the new effort would be tied to the original, and whether Tony Todd, who brought life to the role with an iconic performance in the original movie and two sequels, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) and Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999), would have a role in this latest incarnation. While the new trailer doesn’t show off the actor, it does highlight a number of connections to the original film along with a compelling new focus.