Let this be the day of terrible rumors - and hopefully by days end we'll have put this one to rest. JoBlo is reporting that Robert Englund was on Loveline last night promoting his upcoming film, JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, and during his appearance he claimed that he had heard that Oscar-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton was a name being thrown around to play Freddy Krueger in the remake of A NIGHTMARE ONE ELMS STREET. Englund has been known to "invent" stories that he thinks would be cool. With New Line Cinema hiring Wesley Strick to write the screenplay just a few weeks ago, it seems highly unlikely that any casting talk is underway. File this one under "ridiculous rumor" until further noted.
i think Billy Bob's a good actor, right? i've never actually seen him in anything (just on the arm of Angelina waaay back when). i really DON'T see him doing this kind of movie, nor do i see him stepping in to someone else's shoes to fit a role that's SOOOOOOO iconic.
yeah same here. i honestly think Billy Bob should stick to his comedies, it's what he's good at. for Freddy my choices would be Kevin Bacon or Kiefer Sutherland.
Horrible rumor. Robert, what were you thinking?! I Billy Bob's too famous of a name to be in a NOES remake. You can't get someone famous to step in an portray an iconic horror villain and hope for staying power(since it's likely the NOES reboot will be in the hope for sequels galore). You have to find someone small, who'd be willing to stick it out(Billy Bob would probably charge an arm and a leg, no slasher pun intended).
I feel Robert Knepper (Prison Break's T-Bag) is the only choice to take the glove and mask and bring the character back to life. I believe he will perfect it. Why does Robert always make up stories, that's a bit of a weird habit.
Englund's time is past. he hasn't been scary for um, forever. not since the 1st part. the 1st part was pretty good and dark and scary. EVERY other part was cheesy (bad) one liners and weren't at all vicious and scary. i respect people who love this franchise and Englund, but if they HAVE to do a remake/reboot start over from scratch like they are doing w/ Friday the 13th.
i don't envy the guy the cast as the new Freddy though. there's NO WAY he'll be accepted by the majority of Elm St. fans. so why bother.
I thought he passed on being the green goblin when they were gonna make the first spider-man movie because he thought he would have to do hours of makeup for the goblin mask.So why would he do this?
Micheal Rosenbaum was rumored as well wasnt he? I think he'd be a good one. Billy Bob?...well...in all fairness, the man can give you the creeps. I dont think hes above playing it like some people suggest (his past few movies have been real bombs). I could go for this.
Umm no I really like billy bob but I couldnt imagine him being freedy, that would be a travesty and would be a stab in the back for robert englund.
Up yours wizzack: robert englund is the master of comedy/horror he will always be one of the best.
I can’t help but think that this generation is living off my own nostalgia. Friday the 13th, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, My Bloody Valentine have been made into films.
Why? Is it because the well is dry or the simple fact that my generation runs Hollywood and we want to relive the glory days?
i think if anyone can make Freddy scary again, i'm talking FUCKING SCARY again, it's Platinum Dunes. they (IMO) made Leatherface EXTRA scary and are making Jason VERY scary again. they (if they end up doing Elm St.) will make Freddy awesome again.
djblack1313, PD would rehire Shannon and Swift to pen the script. Those two knuckleheads are the absolute WORST choices to pen the script. They are fine for Ft13 remake, cause Ft13 was always about campiness, but look at FvJ. Horrible. The original NOES was a pretty serious straight up horror movie with some psychological mind fucks tossed in. That's something Craven got right. That's something a more experienced writer(more experienced that Shannon and Swift) should handle.
billy bob would crush that role ! i also like the t bag from prison break idea! and they could make him scary again! p hilton yer just 1 of those dumb fucks who thinks thy need 2 trash remakes cuz u want 2 fit in with all the other dumb fucks tht think the orig. is being replaced with this remake! well its not! so fucking get over it! i bet you'll b there at the theater like every other hater will!! its agood time at the movies! nothing more! a chance 2 c fready on the big screen again!!! who wouldnt want that...
magnaderalpha, don't get me wrong, i'm w/ you that FvJ is an abomination! no doubt about it. i just think (without the FvJ writers, if possible! LOL) that PD could probably do a great, scary Elm St. movie. i don't want ANY camp or cheesy one liners in this Elm ST. and parts 2-FvJ had awful camp attempts and cringe worthy (NOT in a GOOD way) one liners. i definitely don't think Craven should/could do this remake/reboot though. he hasn't made a scary film in forever (IMO).
Billy Bob would hit that fucker outta the park! But I can't imagine him leaving 'serious work' behind to wallow in our beloved genre. And Robert Englund? He was lucky to stumble into that role in the first place. It was fun, but good riddance to him, I say.
But honestly who cares who plays Krueger... It's a remake, it's already tarnished everything we cherish about the franchise, let them cast Freddie Prinze Jr. it's not like it would be any less insulting than this poorly justified 'repackaging.'
the dude from 'southern culture on the skids' always looked like Robert englund to me!hahaha
Check him out! Far left
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction= viewImage&friendID=31734130&albumID=399539&imag eID=338550#
Robert Englund would still be ok. He would be the right age for a sick and twisted Fred Kruger. He still has the moves for any action scenes too. Freddy vs Jason wasn't that long ago. I doubt he has become a decrepid wreck since then. Billy Bob??? No, I just can't picture Freddy with that distinct southern drawl, lol. Robert, of Ben Foster are my choices. Or go completely unknown.
Yeah, this is a funny rumour. But, even being a hardcore NOES fan that i am, i can laugh at it.
Jcarver1986 is dead on. 1,3, and new nightmare are the best. New nightmare creeped me out more that the other two after watching them recently. If you REALLY want to throw funny rumours about, then hows about BILL MOSELEY as freddy? THAT would be funny as hell!
But it all depends where they want to start. I would actually take the bit in 'freddy's dead' about he having a family by day and being killer by night. I've just seen a pic of robert knepper- and its too obvious. If they are gonna have a freddy, make him look like he wouldn't hurt a fly? a cross between dexter and mr rogers type of thing.
ROBERT KNEPPER FOR FREDDY.
Sean of the Dead is a bit faster than me. If you don't know who Robert Knepper is than go watch an episode of Prison Break. He would be perfect for the role of Freddy. I really can't see Billy Bob playing that part, but I am all for it, if it is done right.
I dont think a remake of this is such a bad idea. It needs it actually I think you stick to a very dark premise research real serial killers and do it right. Billy Bob is a great dramatic actor but he's the same age as robert you need someone younger and who is a handsome man someone you can trust but can also play disturbed as well. Like a real serial killer. I say my top two for the role of Freddy are as follows.
1: Vincent Cassel
2: Ralph Finnes
I don't think Billy Bob is that bad of an idea. The guy can act (Sling Blade, A Simple Plan were awesome). I think he would make a creepy Freddy. What we need to get over is Robert Englund WILL NOT be Freddy. That is a certain fact. Just like there was a new Michael, a new Leatherface, and Jason.
When remaking a movie, you can't have 50, 60 year olds playing the part. They do the same thing when James Bond gets too old, they bring in a younger guy."Please", don't tell me "what about Indiana Jones"?
They really need someone who can be creepy. Like Steve Bucemi in Con Air. His character was just wierd. You need somebody like that who can just be a wierdo.
y do ppl care so much about rob england? other than the 1st 3 elm streets everything that guy has done is a pile of shit! The point of a remake is change i personaly want 2 c someone elses take on krueger! ppl didnt think ledger would b a good joker...look how creepy his performance was! billy bob would b goog.. i also like robert knepper prison break guy... and who fuckin cares about how old robert england & billy bob r?? freddy is all burnt 2 shit so u can't tell how fucking old he is! i hate ppl who talk shit about remakes! The old 1 will still be in your fucking collection it isn't going anywhere it'll always be a nightmare on elm street how does a remake tarnish the original? sum people just like having something to bitch about
djblack1313, seemingly Platinum Dunes is having a hard time securing the rights from Warner Bros. As of right now, it DOES seem like Warner Bros plans on making the remake by themselves. They already tossed around the dude who wrote Cape Fear and Arachnophobia as the writer. If that dude IS the writer, I have more faith in the remake being more suspenseful and less campy. Cause, let's face is, NOES, the first one, wasn't really your average campy slasher with pointless nudity and sex. If anything, sex happened off screen and the nudity was weak. NOES was so UNLIKE other slashers because it focused more on the characters and plot. Nancy was slowly having a nervous breakdown and she couldn't tell what the fuck was real and what the fuck was not. Craven did that brillaintly. People still debate on which scenes were real and which weren't. You need a REAL writer to get the same effect as the original, and nothing less would do. No turning NOES into another mindless splatter horror film. If someone can capture the suspense and psychological thrills the original did, as well as add more, THAT is how the remake should be. As for Freddy, I'd prefer Crispin Glover for the role. He's perfect age, and the dude can play freaky characters, as well as a great actor.
i thought that PD didnt even get the rights or anything to this yet?? im sorry i dont care for billy bob thortan. plus aint he like in his fifties?!?! NOONE can replace robert englund. noone i say screw the remake and just make a sequel. bring back heather langenkamp or and her sone dylan as a adult. now that would be cool have have nightmares.
ALL OF YOU STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Billy Bob as Freddy could be interesting. He's a great actor, plus he looks like a child molester...look at him! I like this rumor...I may change my mind later...but I like it.
bd do us a favour and get confirmation on this cos yahoo are actually reporting it on front page
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/wenn/20080813/ten-thornton -to-star-in-nightmare-on-elm-c60bd6d.html
sorry but billy bob thornton as freddy is the dumbest ideas ever i mean ffs.
when and i mean when this gets started up get a an unknown to play freddy if englund wont come back not some teenage heartthrob from some shitty tv show or some famous actor an unknown will do but bill bob ffs that is taking the piss
100% CGI Harvey Dent Two Face?Grendel styled Horribly Damaged Freddy Krueger with
Englund's doing the voice for it in a comfy recording booth. Enough of the age and done it before excuses for why Robert can't play the role. It's fucking lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want a remake. But theres no way to stop it. If This new Friday the 13th does well- the Dunes will get the rights to remake Nightmare. They are depending on it and even said as much at Comic Con. Nightmare fans should know this before supporting the F13 remake. Ca't you giuys hold out for Nightmare sakes till HBO to see this Friday flick. Canlt you stad up for once in your life to say this is bullshit and I'm not going to support it!
I'll fight for Knepper over Thorton anyday, but would still rather have Englund.
Perhaps I can even try out. Hell, I'm the right size, and I know I can do the voice, as I do voice work and impersonations a lot...haha!
Thorton would not make a good freddy lets see englund.
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