Summary
- New Line Cinema is hopeful for a Nightmare on Elm Street return despite complicated rights issues.
- Robert Englund, who played Freddy, won’t reprise role but is open to voicing an animated version.
- Wes Craven’s passing left questions on who should direct the reboot, with Englund suggesting Jordan Peele.
Once the bane of every child’s dreams in the 1980s, Freddy Krueger could be set to make a comeback sooner rather than later with a new A Nightmare on Elm Street movie, but according to New Line Cinema, development on the iconic franchise isn’t as simple as it might sound. Due to horror’s enduring popularity at the box office in recent years, fans of Nightmare on Elm Street have been crying out to see the return of Krueger, the child killer who had been burned to death by his victims’ parents after evading prison.
It has been about 15 years since Freddy Krueger graced the silver screen with his sinister finger-blades in the hopes of instilling terror into the lives of his unsuspected victims. 2010’s A Nightmare on Elm Street remake, starring Jackie Earle Haley as Krueger, wasn’t particularly popular with the movie’s loyal fanbase who described it as “lackluster” and “void of compelling characters”. However, despite its mostly negative response, the remake became the highest-grossing film in the franchise, grossing over $117.7 million worldwide at the box office. In comparison, the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, which was released in 1984, grossed $57.1 million worldwide, so the difference is quite staggering. In light of Jackie Earle Haley’s April Fool’s Day joke which stated that a direct sequel is on the way, development details on a reboot have now been revealed.
Related
Best Horror Movies That Explore Mature Themes
These horror films deal with heavy subject matter that isn’t for the faint of heart.
New Line Boss Shares an Update on A Nightmare on Elm Street Reboot
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema President and Chief Creative Officer, Richard Brener, was asked if a new Nightmare on Elm Street movie was currently in development. Brener, who has been at New Line for 30 years and who also discussed the future of the Conjuring and Friday franchises, revealed that he was hopeful the iconic 80s horror movie would be returning to screens, but that doing so was “complicated” due to the rights to the franchise being reverted to the estate of Wes Craven in 2019, however, New Line does still retain the international rights.
“We hope so. It’s complicated because of the rights.”
Robert Englund, who played Freddy Krueger and will always be known as the face of the sadistic child killer, recently revealed in an interview with Bloody Disgusting that fans won’t get to see him don those iconic blades or red and green-striped sweater again, saying that he was done playing the evil antagonist of the A Nightmare on Elm Street. “There’s no Freddy left in me,” Englund exclaimed, stating that he didn’t want to end up breaking some bones in a fight scene due to his age now, but he would be open to voicing an animated version of the movie.
A few years ago, Englund did have his opinions on who should direct a new Nightmare on Elm Street. With Wes Craven’s sad passing in 2015, there were questions about who would be qualified to direct a Nightmare on Elm Street reboot, but Englund believes he knows the perfect director, and it’s, of course, Jordan Peele. “There’s extraordinary work being done right now. I don’t want to live in a world without Jordan Peele. Get Out is absolute genius,” Englund said.
Related
Johnny Depp’s Nightmare on Elm Street Role Explained
With his crop tops and iconic death scene, Johnny Depp is still remembered for his supporting role of Glen Lantz in the cult slasher movie.
- Release Date
-
November 9, 1984
- Runtime
-
91 minutes
- Director
-
Wes Craven
- Writers
-
Wes Craven
- Producers
-
John Burrows, Joseph Wolf, Robert Shaye, Sara Risher
-
Heather Langenkamp
Nancy Thompson
-
John Saxon
Lieutenant Thompson
-
Ronee Blakley
Marge Thompson
-
Source: The Hollywood Reporter