Robert Englund Will Not Return As Freddy Krueger

A Nightmare on Elm Street is gearing up for another remake/reboot, and rumours have been circulating that the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund, is making a return to the franchise. This week, much to the chagrin of the fans, Englund took to his Twitter account to quash those rumours.

In an article published by Bloody Disgusting, the website analysed and broken down an interview with Robert Englund that, despite hinting at a comeback, confirms Englund will not return as Krueger. It suggests that the fans and the media may have taken his comments out of context. On further inspection, it shows the actor was merely vocalizing a desire to return to the franchise in some form, be it a cameo or as his most iconic role. However, nothing was confirmed.

Englund would soon set the record straight, killing the rumours dead. On September 29, he tweeted the following.

Just for the record, I will NOT be starring as Freddy in any new Nightmare projects, real or fictional

— Robert B. Englund (@RobertBEnglund) September 29, 2015

For Nightmare fans, this will be a devastating announcement. A remake with Englund was gathering serious potential in the wake of the ill-fated 2010 movie. New Line Cinema is working on a remake, and there’s speculation that they are revisiting A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, something mentioned by Englund himself.

During an interview with Red Carpet News, the horror icon spoke about the reboot and gave his thoughts about possibly remaking one of the sequels.

“Well, I left America before this really sort of hit the tweets, and my only knowledge or gossip is that apparently they approached Tuesday Knight – she’s the young actress from Nightmare on Elm Street part 4, who replaced Patricia Arquette. I was trying to think ‘what does that mean?’ They can’t possibly be remaking Nightmare on Elm Street part 1 again – they just did that. I think they may be remaking Nightmare on Elm Street part 3.”

Englund would add some clarification to the rumors since nothing is confirmed.

“This is all speculation. Part 3, Dream Warriors, is the most successful film, and the most popular of the franchise. And it would make sense for them on a kind of Nightmare on Elm Street cinematic pun, to hire Tuesday to play the mother in part 3, Patricia Arquette’s mother, because that would mean she’s playing her own mother. Obviously Tuesday’s older now, it kind of makes sense. So that’s my theory.”

Despite the tweet above, Englund would hint at a possible appearance.

“They’re not gonna bring me back for Freddy, but perhaps they would bring me back in a cameo as the elderly dream expert at the local clinic for dream analysis or dream therapy or something like that.”

Fans of the franchise will be relishing the thought of Englund making an appearance, possibly as one of Freddy’s many victims. The tweet denies his appearance as the dream stalker, but not a much-desired cameo. Fans will keep their fingers crossed that their icon will still appear in a Nightmare movie in some capacity.

A Nightmare on Elm Street was rebooted in 2010 and starred Jackie Earle Haley as Krueger. Despite poor reviews, Haley was applauded for his role as Freddy, one that departed from the original source material and introduced a darker, more serious Krueger. Wes Craven, the director of the original 1984 movie, was disappointed at not being offered a consultant role and thus expressed his displeasure at the remake. Michael Bay produced the movie through Platinum Dunes, along with New Line Cinema, and the film was released by Warner Bros.

The reboot was criticized for its change of story and lack of character development, something that made the original so compelling. Filled with stereotypical teenagers and ignoring the foreboding tension and terror from the 1984 classic, the film became another run-of-the-mill horror film. The decision to convert Freddy from a serial killer to a murderous child molester was also met with derision by fans.

The franchise itself has spawned nine movies, one reboot, a crossover with Friday the 13th, and multiple media staples such as comic books, novels, video games, collectibles, and even a rap CD. The films have grossed $457 million on a budget of $102 million and introduced the world to the ultimate horror icon in Krueger.

The reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street has no release date yet. More details when we get them.

[Images – New Line Cinema and Warner Bros.]