Although Juneteenth has just become recognized as a national holiday, many Black Americans have been celebrating the commemorative day for decades. The day carries weight in the Black community, being the day that Union soldiers notified the enslaved peoples of Galveston, Texas that they were free – two years after the official emancipation of chattel slavery – on June 19, 1865. A day before the now nationally recognized holiday, Candyman director – Nia DaCosta – shares her feelings on Juneteenth in a special video weaving together the themes of Candyman and the trauma of Black people in America.
In the video, Nia articulates her intentions for her film on the eve of Juneteenth:
“I was thinking a lot about the duality of the Black experience in America. At once it’s a place of this great hope – which I think what Juneteenth represents in one way. It’s a celebration of us – of life, of freedom of possibility. On the other side, it’s incredibly difficult and its a lot of pain, and they kind of walk hand in hand.” – Nia DaCosta
Candyman originally appeared in Bernard Rose’s 1992 cult classic as a vengeful, mystical entity, a victim of a brutal hate crime who externalizes his pain in the same community that once turned against him. Nia DaCosta found inspiration to bring Candyman into a new age. As director of this year’s Candyman, she has created a film rooted in horror that reframes the Candyman legend with new urgency. Produced by Jordan Peele, this film is an exciting, terrifying, entertaining, scary-as-hell horror film that also speaks to the movement and momentum of Black lives now.
Candyman is produced by Universal Pictures, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures and Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld’s Monkeypaw Productions, in association with BRON Creative. Candyman is directed by DaCosta, and is produced by Ian Cooper (Us), Rosenfeld and Peele. The screenplay is penned by Peele & Rosenfeld and DaCosta. The film is based on the 1992 film Candyman, written by Bernard Rose, and the short story “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. David Kern, Aaron L. Gilbert and Jason Cloth executive produce. Candyman, although set back many times due to the pandemic, is slated to be released in theaters in 2021.
Scroll up to see Nia DaCosta share her special Juneteenth message.
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