Celebrity Measurements

Horror legend Robert Englund reflects on his career and comments on the future of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

Before the documentary Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story drops on June 6, the legendary actor who plays Freddy Krueger in eight movies and a TV series is reflecting on his career and legacy. Englund is considered an icon by many (including myself), but he seems to disagree. Englund says that he has met idols, and he is not one of them. Despite his Hollywood history as a prolific performer across film, video games, and more, Englund says luck got him to where he is today.

Englund’s life could have been quite different if he didn’t audition to play the nightmare master Freddy Krueger in Wes Craven’s low-budget slasher about a burned child serial killer running loose in victims’ dreams.

“I felt there was a cultural shift that people recognized,” Englund told Variety. Englund told Variety that he felt there was a cultural shift that people recognized. There was a recognition that pulp was a valuable ingredient in our culture. There’s room for pulp and melodrama, and the door opened wider for horror.”

After playing Freddy in multiple films and a TV series, Englund retired from the role, saying his time as the charismatic killer had come. The remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street starred Jackie Earle Haley. The film slayed at the box office but was ill-received by fans.

When asked about why he thinks fans responded poorly to the remake, Englund pointed out a critical change to Freddy’s story that could have marred the character for audiences.

“Jackie’s just so good, a wonderful actor, so I don’t think it was that,” Englund explains. I’ve always believed that Freddy was described as a child murderer. I don’t believe that Freddy is a child molester. By taking it to such a dark, dark place, there’s no room for the personality of Freddy to be exploited.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X9HJDQhq00[in the remake]When it comes to playing Freddy again, Englund says his days as the Springwood Slasher are no more. Englund has a lot of physicality, and Freddy is not a spring chicken. He believes it’s better to leave the sweater to someone else, but he would like to appear in a new film if the studio decides. Englund says Kevin Bacon would be a fantastic choice when asked who should put on the glove for a new

movie.“I know he respects the genre, and he’s such a fine physical actor,” he says.

“I think that in the silences and in the way Kevin moves — it would be interesting.”What do you think about Robert Englund’s Hollywood status? Is he a true icon who is just being humble? Who would you cast in a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street

as Freddy? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Entertainment - Media News Watch originally published at Entertainment - Media News Watch