With the successful reboots of horror franchises like Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween and Friday the 13th already tucked safely under Hollywood’s belt, you knew it was only a matter of days before they announced a remake of Nightmare on Elm Street. Well, they are making a new Nightmare on Elm Street (due out in theaters on April 16, 2010), and, no, Robert Englund will not be returning to play Freddy Krueger … though there’s talk he’ll still show up for a cameo role.
Instead, Platinum Dunes (the folks behind the remake) have just announced that Jackie Earle Haley (aka Rorschach in Watchmen) will take over for Englund as the new Freddy Krueger – complete with that classic knife-glove, creepy hat and ugly red and black sweater (for this new flick someone should seriously introduce Freddy to The Gap).
In a statement on the Platinum Dunes website, producer Brad Fuller says Haley was the only actor they ever considered for the role, and that they will begin the make-up tests this week with production to begin soon. Fuller also adds that Kyle Gallner (A Haunting in Connecticut) was also cast, and he’ll reportedly take on the role played by Johnny Depp in the original film. (That’s right -- Johnny Depp’s first role was in the original Nightmare, for those who didn’t already know.)
Like the first Nightmare on Elm Street, this new version will again follow the iconic serial killer Freddy Krueger as he attacks a group of unsuspecting teenagers through their dreams. Regarding the other rebooted horror franchises, a sequel to Rob Zombie’s Halloween, titled H2, is currently scheduled to hit theaters on August 28th.
What do you think of the new Freddy Krueger? Can Haley pull it off, or is Englund the one and only Freddy in your mind?
