Highlights
- Robert Englund has decided to step away from playing Freddy Krueger due to the toll it took on his health, but he is open to making cameo appearances in future Nightmare on Elm Street films.
- Englund felt that the change made to Freddy Krueger in the remake, where he was portrayed as a child molester, was unnecessary and took away from the character’s personality.
- Despite retiring from the role, Englund still has a fondness for Freddy Krueger and would be honored to make a cameo in the franchise.
Robert Englund decided to step away from playing Freddy Krueger after the role took a toll on his health. Even if you aren’t familiar with the name Robert Englund, there’s a good chance you know his iconic work. Englund is the actor who originally starred as Freddy Krueger, and continued to haunt the nightmares of those who watched the Nightmare on Elm Street films.
While there are countless horror movie characters, few have been as iconic as Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger. Although it was almost impossible to make, A Nightmare on Elm Street became a successful horror franchise. Although the actor has given up the legendary role, Englund revealed he’s open to possible cameo appearances in future Nightmare on Elm Street films.
How Robert Englund Really Felt About Playing Freddy Krueger
Actor Robert Englund first inhabited the role of Freddy Krueger – the villain who crept into the minds of teenagers and killed within nightmares – in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Since first putting on the fedora hat, striped sweater and razor-glove, Englund continued to portray the character in seven more films (eight total) in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. He also fought Jason Voorhees in the crossover film, Freddy Vs. Jason.
However, Robert Englund revealed his days of inhabiting the horror icon are over, as the role had begun to take a toll on his health. According to Insider, he said he “might have had another Freddy or two in me back in 2005 to 2010, but I don’t any longer.” About the character, Englund said, “I know who icons are. I’m not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I’m not. I’m just a character actor, a utility actor who’s been very lucky.”
The character Freddy Krueger has made several other appearances in shows and films outside of the franchise, and Englund has been happy to step in to play the character.
He also enjoyed Jackie Earle Haley’s performance in Elm Street, but Englund felt there was an unnecessary change made to the villain. “Jackie’s just so good, a wonderful actor, so I don’t think it was that. I’ve always thought that Freddy is described as a child killer.”
He added, “So when they made Freddy a child molester [in the remake], that’s not what Freddy is, I don’t think. By taking it to such a dark, dark place, there’s no room for the personality of Freddy to be exploited.”
Englund also spoke about an eerie way to bring Freddy Krueger into the future. “You’d have to deal with technology and culture. For instance, if one of the girls was an influencer, it would be interesting for Freddy to somehow haunt her subconscious and manifest himself, perhaps exploit everybody that followed her.”
Robert Englund Stepped Away From Freddy Krueger After The Role Took A Toll On His Health
Robert Englund portrayed iconic horror villain Freddy Krueger in numerous films in the franchise, and also made multiple appearances as the horror legend in other shows.
Although he said he might’ve been able to put in one or two more performances years ago, he’s decided to say farewell to the horror character. Discussing how the part was beginning to wear him down, the Urban Legend actor told Insider, “I was in my 50s and Freddy Vs. Jason took a lot out of me.” Englund revealed he was “still doing a lot of (his) stunts.”
Per Variety, he also added his body was changing as he grew older, and playing Freddy Krueger was taking a lot out of Englund. “I kind of knew I didn’t have a lot of stunt work left in me, or a lot of takes to physicalize it. And my torso had shifted, along with my face getting older, which doesn’t matter because I’m under all that crap – that makeup.”
The A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge star continued, “But my torso… your weight shifts, and you get thicker as you get older. And I sort of lost Freddy’s silhouette.”
Englund also spoke about other health issues he’d been dealing with, which made it tough for him to continue playing the character known not only for delivering puns, but also some fun fight scenes. “I’m too old and thick to play Freddy now. I just can’t do the fight scenes for more than one take anymore, I’ve got a bad neck and bad back and arthritis in my right wrist. So I have to hang it up.”
Englund has also been in several other films and shows since saying goodbye to the horror villain. Many horror fans were thrilled when it was announced he’d joined the cast of Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things.
Robert Englund Isn’t Completely Closing The Door On ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ Films
Although Robert Englund decided to step away from the iconic role after it began to take a toll on his health, the actor revealed he was open to making cameo appearances in future A Nightmare on Elm Street films.
Revealing who he thinks should play the character, Englund said, “They need to find a new Freddy. It could be someone unknown or it could be someone established, like Kevin Bacon.”
Discussing why he felt Bacon would do well as the villain, Englund commented, “I know he respects the genre, and he’s such a fine physical actor. I think that in the silences and in the way Kevin moves – it would be interesting.”
It would also be fun to see how Englund could return to the franchise in a cameo appearance, and the star has said he would enjoy it. “I would be honored if maybe they invited me to do a cameo.”
Although the Stranger Things actor likely wouldn’t appear in any form of Freddy Krueger in a cameo, Englund has said “he would love to cameo.” It would be interesting to see what type of role he could inhabit in a future film.
Source: NewsFinale
