Tony Todd's Unscripted Farewell in Final Destination: A 'Bittersweet' Tribute to Fans

There’s no denying the excitement surrounding the release of the latest installment in the iconic Final Destination franchise, Final Destination: Bloodlines, now showing in theaters. This sixth film brings back the legendary Tony Todd, best known for his chilling role as the original Candyman. Fans were treated to a powerful, unscripted monologue from Todd, which producer Craig Perry described as "very bittersweet" in a recent interview with Deadline.

Perry shared that everyone on set was aware of Todd’s serious health condition, making his final role in a movie, and specifically in a Final Destination film, deeply poignant. “We all knew that he was obviously quite ill,” Perry remarked, reflecting on the entire franchise that started back in 2000. “And it was pretty clear that this was going to be the last role he would play in a movie, and the fact that it was one of the Final Destination movies made it that much more poignant.”

Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein took a bold step during the filming of Todd’s scene, allowing him to speak directly from the heart rather than sticking to the script. Perry explained, “Our directors, they made a very shrewd decision to take the last couple of lines that were scripted and said, ‘Tony, just, just say what you would want to say to the fans. What would you like to impart to them in this moment?’” This decision resulted in an authentic and emotional scene, as Todd addressed the camera and, through it, the fans who had supported him over the years. “It was a very magical moment on set. It was an impactful moment, and it’s one I’ll take with me until I go to the grave,” Perry concluded.

Warning! Spoilers for Final Destination: Bloodlines follow: