ROTTEN TOMATOES: Robert Englund Talks Nightmare on Elm Street Reboot

Robert Englund Talks Nightmare on Elm Street Reboot

Freddy's got class.

by Jeff Giles | February 20, 2008

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Much has been made of New Line's decision to partner with Platinum Dunes for a Robert Englund-free reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street, but none of the noise on the subject has come from Englund himself. Until now.

Englund recently sat down for an interview with Bloody-Disgusting, ostensibly in support of his latest feature, Killer Pad -- but he had to know he wouldn't get out of there without being asked at least a few questions about the character that made him famous.

Englund could have just offered a terse "no comment," or offered a few non-specific words of encouragement, but instead, he gave readers an actual quote -- read on:

All I know is that Michael Bay made an announcement that he is producing the remake of the original. I don't know if it has Wes Craven's blessing, I presume it does...Because the nature of the story and the stylized surrealism, the dreamscape that unfolds, if any of these movies are need of a remake with the use of new technologies it would seem that 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' is one of them...I don't think it would hurt it because it's such a great story and strong classical myth...I just hope they have Wes' blessing and that trust his story. But they could certainly have fun with the dream sequences and, of course, re-interpreting Freddy.

I wouldn't mind playing a cameo; it would be interesting to see if I could play the dream psychiatrist, I have heard that there is an interesting script regarding a prequel to the original going around. But let's face it -- I'm not a kid anymore...I could probably don the makeup, but they would certainly need a stunt double for the action stuff. I'm only good for about one take; then I get kind of sore.

So there you have it, Englund loyalists -- the man himself is nobly offering his blessing to Michael Bay and company. To read more of Englund's thoughts on the Nightmare re-whatever, follow the link below!

Source: Bloody-Disgusting

Related Items

Movie:	Killer Pad
Celeb:	Robert Englund
	Michael Bay
	Wes Craven

(1-20 of 21 posts) | Reply

Elixor writes:
on Feb 20 2008 05:32 AM

I completely agree with Englund's take. I hope they stay true to the story. I also hope that they go back to the darker portrayal of Freddy from the first movie. More horrific, less Joker.

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Gimy writes:
on Feb 20 2008 05:32 AM

wow, i actually like him a little more now(10,000 maniacs was horsesh3t, and he's been annoying to me ever since) IF that interview was sincere. if it was then basically he sees the truth of the matter, he couldn't have done it. good for him...

craven, to me, is very hit or miss. i loved Scream but for every Scream he does, he does a Cursed or Hills have Eyes hunk of crap. i'll be more pumped for this when i see what the new Freddy looks like and who's playing the lead

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Wallcloud writes:
on Feb 20 2008 06:25 AM

i just recently saw the first one and it's still scary... but whatever there's money to be made

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citizenjames writes:
on Feb 20 2008 06:32 AM

i always thought the flaw in NIGHTMARE (and most eighties horror) was you didn't fear the villian... you rooted for them. it was like watching nascar and waiting for the car wreck. krueger quickly became an icon and you didn't want there to be any survivors. it gets to the point where you want them jason to fight freddy, victims be damned. you never would have wanted norman bates to kill marion crane or jack torrence to kill his wife... okay, maybe because it was shelley duvall.

my other problem is krueger isn't a victim and the best horror icons are people pushed into their situation. frankenstein, the wolf man, jason vorhees, hannibal lecter, lestat, the fly, the mummy. freddy kruger is a child molester that becomes a super-natural child molester. there's nothing tragic there.

although that bastard son of a thousand maniacs bit with his nun mother is so disturbing and brilliant it's the best thing of the franchise.

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Contempt writes:
on Feb 20 2008 08:30 AM

The original is awesome! I guess someone told Bay "it's about a guy who hacks teen to shredds..."
Bay: "did you say, 'hack?',,,,hmmm...interesting."

(Reply to this)

vallejo_7o7 writes:
on Feb 20 2008 08:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#1589470)
"...you didn't fear the villian... you rooted for them. it was like watching nascar and waiting for the car wreck."

thats the greatest comparison i've ever read.

p.s. i completely agree with you evaluation of freddy.

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stm602 writes:
on Feb 20 2008 08:52 AM

In reply to this comment (#1589470)
not once throughout the entire series it is suggested that Freddy is a child molestor. He is a child killer. The two things are not mutually exclusive.

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m34nstr34k writes:
on Feb 20 2008 09:31 AM

I saw the original Nightmare in the theatre as a kid and I've been a fan ever since. Every horror icon goes through a chapter of comical motions and if you think about it they have to. If you keep going with a completely serious tone in every sequel/story it gets boring. That's why Scream was so great. The icon didn't have a face to visually tie it to any one character and the comic relief and the self aware sarcasm came from the protagonists/victims, not said icon. If they do it right and pay the correct homage I don't have a problem, but I think it's hard to capture that image in the same way. Wes Craven created it from his dreams and a personal experience with a complete stranger outside of his apartment... Micheal "over-does-it" Bay and the studio is looking at a story and dollar signs... We'll see.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Feb 20 2008 11:21 AM

In reply to this comment (#1589681)
"not once throughout the entire series it is suggested that Freddy is a child molestor."

IIRC, in the original movie, when Nancy's mother tells Freddy's backstory, she says, "He was a dirty child-molester who killed dozens of kids from the neighborhood."

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure that is a direct quote.

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kissman24 writes:
on Feb 20 2008 11:52 AM

Well, I don't necessarily see this as a blessing. I think it's Englund being classy.

You don't think it bothers him to be left out of the new series? Put yourself in his shoes. This is his bread & butter. This is THE character that made him a somebody. And for them to not ask him to play the character anymore, that can't feel too good.

Englund wouldn't do himself any favors to cry over spilled milk and make a stink about it. He still wouldn't get the part, he will burn his bridges with New Line and he'd thwart any chance to be involved in the new film.

He said the right things, but I hardly see this as a blessing. He was just being gracious.

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RandoCommando writes:
on Feb 20 2008 12:50 PM

In reply to this comment (#1589878)
The actual quote is

"You want to know who Fred
Krueger was? He was a filthy
child killer who got at least
twenty kids, kids from our
area, kids we all knew."

(Reply to this)

ragethorn13 writes:
on Feb 20 2008 01:04 PM

The original nightmare on elm street is great but it's no longer scary. Come on, who finds Freddy running like a dork after Tina in the alleyway behind her house scary? It's more funny. You want dark Freddy, watch New Nightmare or even Dream Warriors. I agree with wha Englund said about remaking it because of all the advantages the movie can have with new special effects for the dreamscapes and all. But storywise, keep it the same. Another reason why this would be a good remake is because Heather Langenkamp sucks! She's so bad, it's unwatchable at times. God! As long as they cast a good Nancy, it should be good.

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FreakyNipples69 writes:
on Feb 20 2008 03:20 PM

First time I hearing that Michael Bay has his hands in the project. I never bashed Michael Bay as I enjoy most of his films and accept that he is simply a man that will make a entertaining film, nothing more, nothing less. He certainly more cinematic than most filmmakers who are deemed "better" yet produce talking pictures (Kevin Smith and Quintin).

I just hate when studios do remakes and completely jostle the IP and create something that's totally different and unloyal to the original.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Feb 20 2008 04:38 PM

In reply to this comment (#1590207)
I've been living a lie.

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jmo2ski writes:
on Feb 20 2008 05:31 PM

I think if they get anyone to play Freddy, it should be Woody Harrelson, because he could bring on the weird vibe, for which he is a weird person himself.

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lestatthevampire writes:
on Feb 20 2008 05:58 PM

NOT SCARY ANYMORE?!?
Give me a break... when Tina says "Oh God." And Freddy flashes his claws and says "THIS is God." WOW! Totally frightening! Maniacal. Rewatch it alone, with the lights off BEFORE BED. You'll be grabbing that crucifix that hangs above your bed.

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lestatthevampire writes:
on Feb 20 2008 06:00 PM

BTW... how about a cameo by Nightmare star J. Depp? Capt. Jack vs. Freddy?
Anyone?

(Reply to this)

Holly Jolly writes:
on Feb 20 2008 06:12 PM

In reply to this comment (#1590688)
Hmmm, I agree Woody would be a great choice.

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BrianInSD writes:
on Feb 20 2008 07:30 PM

Woody Harrelson as Freddy would make for an interesting double feature with Natural Born Killers.

My vote would be for Woody Allen as Freddy.

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Dinobot77 writes:
on Feb 21 2008 12:39 AM

Nightmare On Elm Street will always be one of the iconic templates for all horror movies to abide by. Not only was it ground breaking for its time, but it had two of the most iconic horror scenes and one of the most recognizable nursury rhymes in the history of cinema. You know which one I am talking about. Every time you played double-dutch, you would sing that song over and over again.

The two scenes for which I am talking about are as follows: the scene where Tina gets repeatedly slashed while rolling around the walls and ceiling; and the scene where Glen (Johnny Depp)has his blood pour out of the bed.

I am really proud of Englund for having as much class as he did. It took a lot of guts to say that he would give his blessing for another to take his place.

Then we come to freaking "Brainless" Bay. Not only should Bay have gotten Craven's blessing, he should have also received Englund's blessing. Nightmare could never have happened without either Craven or Englund. That franchise feeds off of both and could never have survived for as long as it did without both of them associated with it. To me, it is a freaking slap in the face to both of these icons. Bay should be ashamed of himself for not having any class or respect. Then again, I should be used to it by now from Bay.

Hopefully he doesn't destroy this as he does with most everything else.

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