Tony Todd Comments on Candyman vs Leprechaun

When I was growing up I always thought the idea of making characters like Freddy and Jason fight each on the big screen would be the hallmark of horror cinema. But after watching the abomination known as Freddy vs Jason, I realized how wrong I was. Of course, the film was very successful and in Hollywood the end justifies the means and many other projects with characters fighting each other were pitched around. There was actually a Pinhead vs Michael Myers that got very close to getting made until the Halloween rights holders squashed the idea.

But there was also a proposed Candyman vs Leprechaun movie that someone thought would be a good idea as well. Thankfully actor Tony Todd turned this idea down without missing a beat and he explains why to the site Comicbook.com with some very valid reasoning:

“This was right around the time of Freddy vs. Jason and [Candyman vs. Leprechaun] did come across my desk. I saw it and I said, ‘I will never be involved in something like that,’” Todd shared with Dread Central. I respect the character. Once a horror character becomes something of an icon [like Candyman], reluctantly or not, you have to treat that with respect that. I remember watching Abbott and Costello vs Frankenstein continuously as a kid and being amazed that my horror legends were making a comedy. So, I guess there are some ways to make something like that work, but I wasn’t interested in doing that with Candyman.”

I couldn’t agree more.

Characters like Pinhead and Candyman would never work in this type of film because they were forces to be reckoned with. Their sole purpose was to terrify the audience, not make them laugh. And even though both franchises have had their own misfires, at least they never fell into self parody.

So let’s all be glad this never happened.

Thanks to Comicbook.com.