Robert Englund Rules Out Playing Freddy Krueger Again

It’s no secret that Robert Englund has previously spoken about leaving behind his iconic role as Freddy Krueger, the famous slasher from A Nightmare on Elm Street and all of its sequels. However, Englund has been enticed back to the role as recently as 2018 for a guest appearance on The Goldbergs. But this time, Englund is ruling out another turn as Freddy.

“I can’t play him anymore. I’m too old,” said Englund during a recent interview with Bloody Disgusting. “There’s no Freddy left in me.”

Englund specifically cited the fact that he can’t do any more fight scenes or quick movements in the Freddy costume. Despite skipping the 2010 remake of the original film, the actor did express his willingness to make a guest appearance in any future Nightmare on Elm Street reboots. He was particularly enthusiastic about making a cameo in a remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.

“I would love to be invited if they reboot Part 3, Dream Warriors, which I think is the most popular film of the franchise,” said Englund. “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.”

The one possibility that Englund left open for coming back to the role was if Freddy returns in an animated format. But for now, there are no reboots or cartoons on the horizon for this franchise. For now, fans will just have to be satisfied by the new restoration of A Nightmare on Elm Street, which is now out on digital. The physical 4K Ultra HD release will follow on October 15.