It's astonishing to realize that it has been a full FIFTEEN YEARS since the iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise graced our screens, with 2010's contentious remake by Samuel Bayer essentially putting a halt to the Freddy Krueger saga. However, the lukewarm reception of that film isn't the sole reason for the franchise's hiatus; the complexities surrounding its rights have significantly compounded the issue over time.
Back in 2019, the website Bloody Disgusting reported an intriguing development: the U.S. rights to A Nightmare on Elm Street were transferred back to the estate of Wes Craven, its late creator. Meanwhile, Warner Bros./New Line Cinema holds onto the international rights for the franchise and the beloved character of Freddy Krueger himself. But this arrangement doesn’t clarify why we haven’t seen any activity on the franchise front for over a decade.
Even though Robert Englund has stepped back from portraying Freddy Krueger in live-action scenarios, he still recognizes the vast potential for a resurgence of this chilling character for a brand-new audience. What are his thoughts on why there has been such a prolonged silence from this storied saga?
In a recent interview with Indiewire, Englund expressed, "There are so many parties involved who each have a stake in the franchise. When Wes passed away, he bequeathed numerous rights to his estate, having established various character titles, names, and plot elements throughout his career. New Line Cinema, naturally, plays a major role in this mix. A substantial portion of those rights once belonged to Ted Turner and eventually transitioned to Warner Bros., which now holds a significant piece of the puzzle. Additionally, I know that Michael Bay had previously shown interest, as well as Blumhouse, which complicates matters even further."
Englund reflected on the 2010 remake, stating, "I think the remake was released too early. While I hold a great deal of admiration for the cast, my feeling is that the timing was not right for such a project."
If Englund had the chance to shape the next iteration of the Nightmare on Elm Street series, he would have some clear ideas in mind. He shared with Indiewire, "I am certain that they will eventually reboot this franchise. I believe there’s potential to view Part 2 as a standalone feature that can delve deeply into the psychological dimensions of Freddy's manipulation of Jesse and his subconscious thoughts."
He elaborated, “My perspective is that there’s no need to revisit the first Nightmare again. Instead, it would be more interesting to explore a prequel or possibly kick things off with Dream Warriors, which remains the most successful entry in the series and is beloved by fans. Thus, I’d advocate for a reboot of parts 3, 4, and 5. To wrap up the series, I would suggest crafting a prequel.”
What do you think about Englund's vision for the franchise? Do you agree with his take on the 2010 remake being premature? Or do you have a different perspective on how the Nightmare series should be approached in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
