'Candyman' director Nia DaCosta makes history

CNN/Stylemagazine.com Newswire | 9/1/2021, 2:37 a.m.
"Candyman" director Nia DaCosta has become the first Black female director to have a film debut in the top spot …
Caption: Director Nia DaCosta, here in 2020, has made history with the success of her film "Candyman." Mandatory Credit: JC Olivera/Getty Images

Originally Published: 31 AUG 21 12:18 ET

Updated: 31 AUG 21 12:39 ET

By Marianne Garvey, CNN

(CNN) -- "Candyman" director Nia DaCosta has become the first Black female director to have a film debut in the top spot in the US box office, Universal Pictures announced Tuesday.

According to Box Office Mojo, the horror film, a sequel of the 1992 movie, made over $22 million over the weekend.

The movie is also now the second highest-grossing three-day opening for a Black female director, led by Ava DuVernay for "A Wrinkle in Time."

DaCosta co-wrote the movie with Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld. This version of "Candyman" has all Black leads and addresses racism, chronicling the story of a Black man who was killed for falling in love with a White woman.

DaCosta said in a recent interview with the New York Times that she welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with Peele.

"I was really excited because Jordan Peele was co-writer and a producer -- no-brainer. So, I felt really safe in the process because I'm a huge fan of his."

Next up for DaCosta is directing "The Marvels," the follow to 2019's "Captain Marvel" for Marvel Studios.

"Candyman" can currently be seen in theaters.

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