Freddy Krueger Actor Robert Englund Says He’s “Too Old” for Another Nightmare on Elm Street
It’s horror movie season, so naturally it’s time to remember all the fucked up times we had with slashers like Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th… the list goes on and on. And while a lot of the newer rehashes of those old reliables have been pretty middling if we’re being generous, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that some of us horror heads want some more in the future.
Unfortunately for fans of perhaps the most successful and fucked up killer of ’em all, Freddy Krueger, you may not be getting the same murderous spectre you’d seen all these years. That’s because in a recent interview with Bloody Disgusting to promote the 4K restoration of A Nightmare on Elm Street, the man behind the knife-tipped glove Robert Englund said he was “too old” to reprise the role.
During his chat, Englund was asked if he felt he “has one more Freddy performance in him” and and his answer was a pretty definitive “no.”
“I don’t. I literally don’t. I mean, there might be some gimmick thing we could do with a close-up or something, but no, I can’t play him anymore. I’m too old.”
At 77 years old, it’s understandable that the man may not be as spry as he used to be when he first started portraying Krueger. This sort of problem’s been creeping up with our old slasher stars, as the original actors age out of their roles. In some instances, like Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers, all you’d need is a big dude in a mask and you’re good. For Krueger, however, it’s all about the performances. He’s a very emotive killer and Englund was very well known for playing up the character.
While he may not have it in him to play Krueger moving forward, Englund said he’d love to be able to contribute to a future Nightmare on Elm Street, albeit in a different role.
“I would love to be invited if they reboot Part 3, Dream Warriors, which I think is the most popular film of the franchise. It would be fun to play one of the doctors. The great Priscilla Pointer, Amy Irving’s mother, was in that film. Maybe I could play her part as a male doctor that’s very cynical. A cameo wink to the audience that I don’t buy that there’s this dream demon that everybody’s having the same dream about. It’s in the tradition of remakes, especially with horror, to give an actor that’s been in the original a little cameo, so I think that would be fun.
“But no, there’s no Freddy left in me. I could possibly voice a really high-end, animated version. That would be nice to be asked to do, but I know I can’t do the fight scenes more than one take now, one angle. I just can’t be snapping my head or anything like that. I’m an old dog! Give me a break.”
The 4K restoration of A Nightmare On Elm Street is available today on digital and will be available on physical 4K Ultra HD on October 15.
