While the Final Destination franchise is infamous for its gore and creating fears you didn’t know existed, it’s also known as one of the many sagas that showcases Tony Todd’s immense talent. Reflecting on Todd’s legacy on the horror movie industry, the cast of Final Destination Bloodlines has recalled what it was like working with the man with the voice.
This article contains spoilers for Final Destination Bloodlines. Proceed with caution.
For folks who are not familiar with Final Destination lore, Todd has been there from day dot as the deliciously sinister character of William John Bludworth, an undertaker who warns those who’ve cheated death about “death’s design”. AKA the carnage that follows minutes after he makes that spooky, spooky speech.
But what makes Final Destination Bloodlines extremely eerie and “bittersweet” is that it was one of Todd’s last moments on screen before he passed away in November 2024.
While I won’t give too much away about his final cameo (duh, Final Destination Bloodlines is a horror movie must-watch), Todd’s appearance is not as spine-tingling as his previous appearances.
This time around, Final Destination producer Craig Perry confirmed to Deadline that Todd’s final words in the franchise were a direct message to fans, encouraging them to enjoy the time they have alive rather than worrying about the inevitable end.
“We all knew that he was obviously quite ill, and it was pretty clear that this was going to be the last role he would play in a movie,” he dished.
“And the fact that it was one of the Final Destination movies made it that much more poignant.
“Zach [Lipovsky] and Adam [Stein], our directors, they made a very shrewd decision to take the last couple of lines that were scripted and say, ‘Tony, just say what you would want to say to the fans. What would you like to impart to them in this moment?’
“So, everything that makes that scene so emotional is authentic because that was just Tony talking through the camera to the very fans who supported him for so many years. So, 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.”
The Final Destination: Bloodlines cast reflect on working with Tony Todd’s
When asked about what it was like working with Todd, Final Destination Bloodline stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, and Rya Kihlstedt admit that the camera doesn’t do the horror icon justice when it comes to his presence and his physical features.
“He was the loveliest, one of the loveliest actors I’ve ever worked with. So caring, so giving and just present,” Juana revealed to PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“We were all so happy and honoured to have him, and he was just as happy to be there, which was really, really sweet,” Kihlstedt added.
With Todd appearing in the franchise several times, he gave some truly deep advice to the incoming scream stars.
“When we were in the middle of shooting this, he told me that we were making ‘God conscious art,’” Juana dished.
“And I think that’s something that can just be felt all around, like everything around us was just like God conscious, and I thought that was entirely beautiful in itself.”
Elaborating on the topic of “God conscious art”, Juana admits that it’s a bit weird since it’s linked to a Final Destination movie — you know, one of the many horror movies no one survives — however, she believed that Todd was referencing the crew’s connection to each other.
“I think we were also talking about, like, just the crew and the people around us and like, this was something that was so spiritually aligned,” she adds.
“I know it’s weird to be talking about that with a final destination movie, but the crew and the people were all just so great. It was like a lovely group of people to work with, and everybody felt super connected on it.”
Honestly, with his final monologue about making use of our time on earth and the advice he shared with the cast, it honestly gives the whole movie and the character of Bludworth a new perspective.
That being said, as a horror movie girlie, I truly appreciate all of the spooks Tony Todd has given us. From Final Destination to the Candyman franchise, he’s been bloody stellar!!!!
RIP, you legend.
