A Nightmare on Elm Street is a franchise that has endured for 40 years. While the last 14 years have been quiet on the Elm Street front, the franchise continues to be adored by horror fans worldwide, with Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger remaining a true horror icon.
Futile talks of a reboot have circulated for several years, but it could be time for the franchise to take on a new form. After all, the 2010 reboot starring Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger wasn’t well-received by audiences and critics, despite being a box-office success.
There are many routes A Nightmare on Elm Street could take, but perhaps the best direction is the least obvious: animation. While animation is the last thing you might think of when it comes to this franchise, shows such as the new Terminator Zero on Netflix prove otherwise.
Now, in an interview with ComicBook.com, Robert Englund has expressed his enthusiasm for an anime reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street. Englund, who famously portrayed Freddy Krueger in eight films, shared his thoughts on the potential for an animated version.
When asked what he thought of the idea, Englund beamed, “That’s a great idea. Let’s go for it. We’ll have lunch! No, no, that’s a great idea. Well, you know, Freddy’s made appearances in some sophisticated games, but I’m thinking that would be a great idea.”
“A nice, dark, animated Nightmare on Elm Street,” he added.
He also noted that, while he has stepped away from physically portraying the character, he’d be excited to return to lend his distinct vocal talents in an animated capacity.
Related: Brand-New ‘Elm Street’ Sequel Is Now Available to Watch Online!
The Unique Appeal of Anime for Horror
An anime of A Nightmare on Elm Street, be it a reboot of the original 1984 film or a sequel, would allow a new generation of fans to experience the terrifying world of Freddy Krueger.
The unique approach of anime opens new avenues for horror storytelling—especially when considering a property as rich as A Nightmare on Elm Street. Anime embodies a distinct visual storytelling method that contrasts sharply with the traditional Hollywood horror style. While the latter often relies on realistic human emotions and scenarios, anime can integrate surrealism, making nightmarish imagery — perfect in this case — even more impactful.
Whether or not this will ever happen, though, remains to be seen.
Related: ‘Elm Street’ Reboot May Feature a Female Freddy Krueger
Exploring Freddy Krueger’s Backstory
During the interview, Robert Englund also shared his own idea for an Elm Street reboot, one that would explore Freddy Krueger’s backstory in a potential prequel; a narrative that dives into the life of the character before he becomes the infamous dream demon.
“I would almost like to see a prequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street where we see Freddy, you know, go to jail, you know, go to court, courtroom drama, he gets off, the lawyers could be really interesting characters, could be real sleazy ambulance chasers,” he said.
As put forward by Englund, a prequel could take on the form of a gripping courtroom drama where Freddy, at that time not yet disfigured and burnt, navigates the legal system following his arrest, and that this route would allow fans to see Freddy through a different lens before he transforms into a monster — something that was only teased throughout the nine films.
Watch the full interview here.
A New Elm Street Reboot
Though there has been no confirmation on a new A Nightmare on Elm Street reboot, the property is unlikely to be overlooked for too long. With fellow iconic slasher franchises such as Halloween and Scream continuing to release new content, it’s only a matter of time before we see another Elm Street continuation, whether it’s a sequel or otherwise.
Would you like to see an anime Elm Street reboot or a prequel? Or perhaps an anime prequel? Let Disney Dining know in the comments down below!
