Nia DaCosta has spoken out to explain the further delayed release of her hotly anticipated horror flick, Candyman.
“We made Candyman to be seen in theaters. Not just for the spectacle but because the film is about community and stories–how they shape each other, how they shape us. It’s about the collective experience of trauma and joy, suffering and triumph, and the stories we tell around it,” she tweeted.
Universal and MGM announced the movie’s release date had been moved from Oct. 16 to some time in 2021. The coronavirus has had a significant impact on the film industry, with many studios opting to release via streaming platforms or postponing until next year.
“We wanted the horror and humanity of Candyman to be experienced in a collective, a community, so we’re pushing Candyman to next year, to ensure that everyone can see the film, in theaters, and share in that experience,” DaCosta continued.
The film stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo and Vanessa Williams. DaCosta penned the script with Get Out director Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld.
“I just want to tell good stories in ways that will shine light on lives rarely seen on screen, because stories can push humanity forward,” she told Indie Wire last year. “And so I think a diversity of stories is really important in raising awareness and creating empathy. It’s through this medium of film that many of us learn about and communicate with one another, especially with people we don’t know.”
