A Nightmare on Elm Street star Robert Englund has revealed the one and only condition for unretiring Freddy Krueger is the franchise were to continue. England has portrayed Freddy in all the A Nightmare on Elm Street movies, except for the 2010 reboot where Jackie Earle Haley took on the role. While there hasn’t been a movie in the franchise since the remake, it’s also been unclear if the original actor would return to his iconic role given the opportunity. Given the length of time since the newest installment, it’s unclear what plans could be in place for the franchise.
Speaking with Bloody Disgusting, Englund said he would only reprise his role as Freddy in an animated rendition of A Nightmare on Elm Street. The actor explained how, due to his age, he’d be unable to perform all the slasher villain’s feats in live-action anymore, but would be willing to voice the character should an animated project come to light. Check out what Englund had to say below:
There’s no Freddy left in me. I could possibly voice a really high-end, animated version. That would be nice to be asked to do, but I know I can’t do the fight scenes more than one take now, one angle. I just can’t be snapping my head or anything like that. I’m an old dog! Give me a break.
What Englund’s Statement Means For A Nightmare On Elm Street’s Future
Could An Animated Project Actually Happen?
The latest update about a possible Nightmare on Elm Street revival came in 2019, when the rights to the franchise reverted back to Wes Craven’s estate. By November of that same year, it was announced that both a movie and a series for HBO were being worked on, with Englund expected to reprise his role for both projects. However, since then, there has been no concrete information about the franchise continuing, meaning these developments likely aren’t being worked on anymore. Even so, it leaves room for a fresh new future for the slasher icon.
Animated projects aimed at older audiences have become more popular in recent years, such as Prime Video’s Invincible and Hazbin Hotel, Netflix’s Arcane, and Max’s Harley Quinn. Since these shows cover a wide range of genres, a slasher series with Freddy in the lead would fit right into the lineup of animated shows currently being produced. Since the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street was disappointing, though, an animated movie or TV series would need to be extremely faithful to the original in order to succeed. This may include bringing Englund back into his iconic role.
A Nightmare on Elm Street movies all take place in the same canonical timeline, except for Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, Freddy vs. Jason, and the 2010 remake.
Our Take On An Animated Nightmare On Elm Street
It Would Work Given Freddy’s Cartoonish Demeanor
As for the story that could be told, the animated medium could allow for a deeper exploration of Freddy’s dream world, perhaps offering a new take on it that only animation could fully bring to life.
Throughout A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy has often killed people in over-the-top ways, making him a unique slasher villain compared to the likes of Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers. This would make animation the perfect medium for a new rendition, allowing for even wilder deaths than those featured in the movies. Englund’s return would also compliment the character, offering an exciting way to bring the series back while keeping the original actor around.
Beyond just the shocking kills in A Nightmare on Elm Street, an animated rendition could allow it to happen at any point on the franchise’s timeline. While the original six movies follow a concise storyline, an animated TV series could get away with having Freddy show up at any point during this time period. This could offer an expansion of the films while staying true to everything that makes them such well-remembered slashers. Additionally, he could show up at a much later time period, making for an even more unique situation involving his murders.
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street |
95% |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge |
43% |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors |
67% |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master |
57% |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child |
30% |
|
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare |
22% |
|
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare |
79% |
|
Freddy vs. Jason |
41% |
|
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) |
14% |
As for the story that could be told, the animated medium could allow for a deeper exploration of Freddy’s dream world, perhaps offering a new take on it that only animation could fully bring to life. Given that such a world was already parodied with Rick and Morty‘s Scay Terry in season 1 of the animated comedy, this has already been proven as something that could work for the real A Nightmare on Elm Street. Having a deeper focus on the dream world would also highlight the antagonist in his element, perhaps resulting in even more creative kills too.
Read More About A Nightmare On Elm Street
Past Movies Can Explain Why An Animated One Would Work
Throughout the A Nightmare on Elm Street timeline, there has been ample proof that an animated rendition could easily fit into the wild world of its shocking kills and dreamlike events. This is why a movie or TV series utilizing animation could be so successful, as it could result in some of Freddy’s most brutal kills which might not be easy to replicate in live-action. Given the detailed storyline crafted over the events of the original six movies, though, a new rendition might benefit from instead having a new timeline established within its medium.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 1-5 and Freddy vs. Jason are available for streaming on Max.
However, since the animated medium could place the potential project anywhere on the timeline, it could simply continue the story in modern times, or even just slightly after the end of Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare. Explored in this could also be a deeper dive into Freddy Krueger’s family and his past, complimenting the creative kills and deeper exploration of the dream world in the process. With plenty of strong ideas for a fresh take on the franchise, Englund’s view for A Nightmare on Elm Street continuation or revival is more than fitting for the franchise.
Source: Bloody Disgusting
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.
- First Episode Air Date
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October 8, 1988
- Character(s)
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Freddy Krueger
, Nancy Thompson
, Kristen Parker
, Jesse Walsh
, Alice Johnson
, Tina Gray
, Dr. Neil Gordon
, Kincaid
, Joey Crusel
, Amanda Krueger
Summary
The Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.
