As horror fans wait for New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. to find a way to revive Freddy Krueger in a new reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street, one of the most important figures in the franchise has decided to contribute by sharing a great idea. Robert Englund, the actor best known for playing Freddy Krueger in the first seven films of the universe created by Wes Craven, says that if there’s a place for Freddy in modern horror, it’s in a prequel. Exploring the origins of the killer? You’ve got our attention.
Englund spoke to Bloody Disgusting for the official release of the 4K UHD 7-film collection of A Nightmare on Elm Street. During the interview, Englund addressed the usual question of who should play Krueger in a modern version of A Nightmare on Elm Street. He also showed his knowledge of the franchise’s lore and said it would be wise to make a prequel instead of remaking Part 1:
“I think if they were going to reboot it, they should probably start with [A Nightmare on Elm Street 3] Dream Warriors, because it has that great opening that’s sort of like, ‘Previously on Nightmare on Elm Street.’
“I don’t know if they should ever reboot Part 1 again. They could do it as a prequel, like Tobe Hooper did on the series [Freddy’s Nightmares]. Really do a backstory before, so you have the story of Nancy and Tina and Glen and everything going on, but you start even before that. That’s what I would do. There’s plenty of directors out there that I think could really, really do some interesting work with the Nightmare on Elm Street motif.”
Who Should Play Freddy Krueger in a New ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ According to Robert Englund
Before you get your hopes up, Englund is just sharing ideas. Another reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street has yet to be announced. However, following Michael Myers being brought back to life by Blumhouse in 2018, and Jason Voorhees’ revival with the prequel Crystal Lake and the Jason Universe, it seems inevitable that New Line will try again. The 2010 reboot is better left in oblivion, but who’s to say it can’t work again?
Englund addressed the casting of Freddy Krueger, saying, “I think, for the sake of the franchise, they need to find someone like Doug Jones.” (Jones is known for playing otherworldly characters in films like The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth.) Englund also talked about Kevin Bacon’s possible casting, but he doesn’t believe the Flatliners actor is interested:
“Years ago, I heard they were considering Kevin Bacon for Freddy Krueger. Kevin’s in a couple of my favorite horror movies; Stir of Echoes I love, and Tremors obviously. I love Kevin as an actor. He’s a true character actor, he just happens to be imprisoned in a leading man’s body, but Kevin is also very physical. I thought that was a great choice, but this was, like, five years ago. I know he’s got all these other projects now, and he’’s not getting any younger, so he probably wouldn’t be interested.
“I was trying to think of someone like that, if he were going to look for a name, like Kevin Bacon. But I think they probably should steer themselves to someone more unknown that doesn’t have to worry about following in my footsteps or anything else, just creating his own conception of the character.
“I think that it would be interesting to maybe redefine Freddy differently than my physicality and my size; a lumbering tall man, perhaps, or someone wiry and shorter than me, and maybe more cat-like or reptilian. It would be interesting. They got to pick somebody that can go the distance.”
- Release Date
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November 9, 1984
- Runtime
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91 minutes
- Producers
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John Burrows, Joseph Wolf, Robert Shaye, Sara Risher
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John Saxon
Lieutenant Thompson
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Ronee Blakley
Marge Thompson
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