As surprising as it may be, the producers of Candyman at one point wanted to cast Eddie Murphy as the titular villain, but it didn't work out. Candyman was of course ultimately played by Tony Todd, in what would become the prolific character actor's signature role. Todd's Candyman is a certified horror icon, and the film makes the most of his attributes, including an imposing physical presence and a deep, booming voice that immediately commands the attention of the viewer.
Todd would go on to play Candyman in two sequels, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh in 1995, and Candyman: Day of the Dead in 1999. Neither measured up to the brilliance of director Bernard Rose's original classic, but Todd remained entertaining every moment he was onscreen. That may not have been enough to compensate for underwhelming scripts, especially in the case of Day of the Dead, but Todd clearly gave things his all, and never stopped taking the role seriously.
Tony Todd and Candyman seem like a perfect match, one that was probably destined to happen. Yet, the first choice for the Candyman role was legendary comedian and movie star Eddie Murphy. It might sound like an odd idea, but Hollywood is often a place where baffling ideas flourish.
It's not clear why he was favored, but Eddie Murphy was in fact the first choice to play Candyman, and remained a contender until late in the casting process. It's also unclear why exactly he didn't end up playing the role. Some accounts say that Murphy's salary demands were too high for the film's budget to accommodate, as by the early 1990s, Murphy was one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Other reports say his height played a determining factor, as Murphy is only 5' 9", making him only four inches taller than Virginia Madsen, who played protagonist Helen Lyle.
Although he's rarely stepped foot near the horror realm. Murphy clearly did have an interest in performing in the genre, going on to star as the titular villain in 1995 horror/comedy Vampire in Brooklyn. Directed by legendary filmmaker Wes Craven, the film was initially panned, but has developed a cult following over the decades since. So in that respect, it's not hard to imagine him giving serious thought to accepting the Candyman role. That said, the idea that Murphy would've commanded too high a price for his performance is entirely believable. Considering how great things worked out with Tony Todd, it's probably for the best that the man behind Axel Foley didn't end up menacing the citizens of Cabrini Green.
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