Despite a fairly respectable box office take, the 2010 remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street didn’t exactly please either critics or audiences, and it’s telling that there was never a sequel featuring Jackie Earle Haley’s take on the iconic Freddy Krueger. But it’s been nearly a decade since it hit theaters, so why not have another go at resurrecting Krueger for a new audience, especially now that horror’s undergoing a renaissance in terms of box office?
That’s the question fans have been asking for years, and though we’ve heard chatter of a reboot here and there, nothing tangible has really materialized as of yet. Thankfully, then, we’ll soon get to see Robert Englund back in the role, as he’s set to reprise it next month.
Yes, though many probably thought they’d never see the actor under the heavy makeup and prosthetics again, ABC’s ’80s-set show The Goldbergs has managed to rope him in for a guest spot on this year’s Halloween special. People are pretty psyched about it as well, with folks taking to Twitter this past weekend to express their excitement – and you can see some of their reactions below.
— Travis 'Scooter' Taylor (@ScooterDoodles) September 23, 2018
Omg!!!! Freddy is such a major part of my childhood and I absolutely love The Goldbergs!!! This is so darn cool!!! I can't wait!! https://t.co/387W5IJyuW
— Rachel Williams (@RachelLynn521) September 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/NThedarkman666/status/1043725586353524736
Fuck! @RobertBEnglund is such a LEGEND of horror!!! He is so iconic – even in THIS clip!
They need to reboot A Nightmare On Elm Street – but with HIM back as Krueger!!!! https://t.co/Q6nNKJtV3n
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) September 22, 2018
If this doesnt make Hollywood realize that NO ONE can portray Freddy Krueger better than Robert Englund, nothing will. Iconic & timeless. I love this & can't wait. The Goldbergs just gets better & better.
"Now I'm playing with power!" pic.twitter.com/R9jbijJMh1
— 𝙒𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙄𝘼𝙈 (@Willittolife) September 22, 2018
— Stacey Coxall (@StaceyCoxall) September 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/KendrixConrad/status/1043207389300838400
Definitely looking forward to this episode!!! The Goldbergs is one of my favorite shows and I absolutely love everything Halloween/horror movies. So this is the best of both worlds! Especially with the OG Freddy Krueger @RobertBEnglund!!!
— Tim Morgan (@MonsterRacing38) September 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/_snakeitoff_/status/1043368490407587840
https://twitter.com/ThundaDizan/status/1043907231735996416
From what we understand, the episode of The Goldbergs that Englund will appear on, titled “Nightmare on Elk Avenue,” will focus “on the fears of the show’s teenage protagonist, Adam, after seeing A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Details beyond that remain unknown, but it’s great to hear that the actor will return as Freddy and perhaps it’ll light a fire under New Line to get that reboot off the ground.
Speaking of which, the studio continues to pour resources into its new Nightmare On Elm Street. After much deliberation, Englund has revealed that unfortunately, he won’t be back, but we do know that David Leslie Johnson (The Conjuring 2) has been tasked with penning the script. As always, watch this space for more.