'That’s not what Freddy is': OG Freddy Krueger Robert Englund finally opens up on why the iconic horror character flopped in reboot
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Robert Englund has appeared in an array of films and television shows, directed movies, voiced characters in video games, and starred in one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of all time. He is aware, however, that his portrayal of the iconic horror character Freddy Krueger in eight 'Nightmare on Elm Street' movies and a TV series will go down in history as his best work. Englund has acknowledged that he has retired from using a bladed glove and has chosen a successor.
A new documentary, 'Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story', which will be released on June 6, delves into Englund's distinctive journey on the silver screen. In the documentary, the 75-year-old actor reveals that he will no longer portray the antagonist he made famous over the course of eight feature films, reflecting on his 50-year career, as per Variety.
'No room for the personality of Freddy to be exploited'
Englund portrayed the Springwood Slasher in all eight 'Nightmare on Elm Street' movies. He last appeared as his well-known persona in the 2003 blockbuster 'Freddy vs Jason'. Less than ten years later, Jackie Earle Haley was hired to play Freddy in the 2010 remake of the 1984 film 'Elm Street'.
Although it was a commercial success, fans denounced it as a series low, and a subsequent chapter was never produced. Despite the horror community's devotion to Englund, he favored Haley's Freddy and believes that there was one major change from the original that led things to go awry.
"Jackie’s just so good, a wonderful actor, so I don’t think it was that," Englund explained. "I’ve always thought that Freddy is described as a child killer. So when they made Freddy a child molester [in the remake], that’s not what Freddy is, I don’t think. By taking it to such a dark, dark place, there’s no room for the personality of Freddy to be exploited."
'Too old and thick to play Freddy now'
According to Variety, Englund, who made his film debut as the villain in 1984's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', was open about his 'icon status' in the film. "I know who icons are," Englund stated. "I’m not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I’m not. I’m just a character actor, a utility actor who’s been very lucky."
He claimed in his upcoming documentary 'Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story', "I’m too old and thick to play Freddy now. I just can’t do fight scenes for more than one take anymore, I’ve got a bad neck and bad back and arthritis in my right wrist. So I have to hang it up, but I would love to cameo."
Who is the future Freddy Krueger?
Speaking of Englund retiring from his iconic role, it's hard not to ponder whether he's given the franchise's future any thought. Though he hasn't authored any of the movies, he has a suggestion for how to update 'Elm Street' for the modern era.
He said, "You’d have to deal with technology and culture. For instance, if one of the girls was an influencer, it would be interesting for Freddy to somehow haunt her subconscious and manifest himself, perhaps exploit everybody that followed her."
Englund did acknowledge, though, that if he were to leave the franchise, Kevin Bacon would be the ideal replacement. "I know he respects the genre, and he’s such a fine physical actor," the talented star said. "I think that in the silences and in the way Kevin moves — it would be interesting."
