Though no one has been confirmed, several possible actors could replace Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Englund portrayed Kreuger in eight different feature film installments of the Elm Street franchise, as well as the television show, Freddy’s Nightmares. Though Englund has retired from acting as Freddy, due to his age and the role demands, no other actor is yet set to replace the legend. There hasn’t been an official update to the franchise in over a decade, with Englund’s last appearance as Krueger being a guest role in The Goldbergs in 2018.
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Unlike other slasher killers, like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger speaks a lot, giving him quite the personality, full of iconic one-liners. This means finding a replacement for the villain is difficult, since fans of the franchise have a very clear idea of Freddy’s personality. Freddy’s personality is also established to be a combination of drama and humor, a tone that Englund spent many years establishing. Englund has requested a cameo in whatever new films are produced, no matter which new actor takes on the legendary role.
9 Bill Skarsgård
Known For: It: Chapter 1 & Chapter 2, Boy Kills World, The Crow (2024)
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Skarsgård’s horror movie resume has grown extensively in the past decade, with his most notable role as Pennywise in IT. His eerie presence and appearance help make him a great asset in any horror film, adding to the suspense. His ability to create unsettling characters makes him a natural fit for Freddy. This creepiness could be an excellent addition to the Freddy character, allowing for more close-ups and depths in the camera work, as opposed to the campier filming of the original franchise.
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Skarsgård has shown his ability to play a wide range of emotions in his horror acting, from sadistic glee as a villain to tragic vulnerability as a victim. This depth could allow for a more layered interpretation of Freddy, exploring his backstory and motivations. Also, his youth could help make him a Freddy actor for years to come, depending on the success of his initial portrayal, further establishing him as a horror icon for generations of fans.
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8 Sung Kang
Known For: The Fast & Furious Franchise
Best known for his involvement in the Fast and Furious franchise, Sung Kang has expressed interest in playing Freddy, considering it a bucket list item. He has particularly called out awe at the iconic sweater and knife fingers. Kang likens the time spent sitting in prosthetics for Freddy to the time he spent while working on the Star Wars Obi-Wan series. Even with that experience, Kang has publicly said he’s unsure if he could undergo the transformation for months.
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Kang also recently made his feature directorial debut in the 2022 creature feature, Shaky Shivers. In interviews about his film, Kang credits the slasher villains of the 1980s as helping to shape his idea of horror, especially Jason and Freddy. He considers it a full-circle moment to be able to play the monster who helped jumpstart his interest in the entertainment industry. This passion could bring an authentic intensity to his portrayal, giving a renewed life to the classic character.
7 Michael Keaton
Known For: Beetlejuice, Batman (1989), Spider-Man: Homecoming
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Though he has a vast acting career in various genres, Keaton has proved his comedy horror skills by playing Beetlejuice across multiple decades. Though Beetlejuice isn’t quite as scary or murderous as Freddy, he still represents a significant genre of horror monster. Both Freddy and Beetlejuice are known for their quotable one-liners, making them relatively likable antagonists and helping to develop their characters. Keaton’s ability to shift between tones could allow for a Freddy that is both terrifying and darkly humorous.
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Keaton would bring the same iconic grandeur to the role as Englund does. While his horror resume isn’t too extensive, mostly filled with his work in the Beetlejuice movies, Keaton’s dramatic and comedy films are plentiful. Unfortunately, Keaton is around the same age as Englund, who has deemed himself too old to play the physicality of Freddy. Keaton may also be past the prime age to portray all the nuances and movements of the iconic villain well.
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6 Richard Brake
Known For: Game of Thrones, Barbarian, The Devil’s Rejects
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Richard Brake is a well-known character actor who many believe could fill the role of Freddy well. Brake has made a name for himself playing creepy characters, whether overtly evil or unspokenly sinister. He’s become a well-known face in the genre and has played roles in multiple Rob Zombie movies. Brake has integrated himself into the genre, giving a subconscious darkness to every role he plays. Many believe that Freddy could allow him to achieve the proper darkness he clearly can reach.
The expanse of his career has showcased his acting talents and ability to lean into a role, especially when concealing his natural Welsh accent.
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Brake’s most popular credits include Batman Begins, Absentia, Peaky Blinders, and Game of Thrones. The expanse of his career has showcased his acting talents and ability to lean into a role, especially when concealing his natural Welsh accent. Many also point to Brake as having a significant physical resemblance to Freddy, helping to match Englund’s established style, though the two actors are different heights.
5 Javier Botet
Know For: REC, The Last Voyage of the Demeter, Mama
Botet is not necessarily a household name, but he has performed in many familiar movies. Botet is best known for his hyperflexibility due to an early diagnosis of Marfan Syndrome. This ability to move his body in unique ways has made Botet a significant creature actor in horror. His horror resume includes playing the creature in Slenderman, REC, Mama, The Conjuring 2, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, and IT, among many others.
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Botet’s monsters often bring more physicality than vocal presence to a film, which might be a barrier when tackling Freddy.
Botet’s body and physical presence, at a looming 6 foot and 7 inches, can extend Freddy to even creepier proportions. His physicality and experience in creature acting can make the demon more dreamlike and uncanny, adding to his eeriness. Though he might lack some of Freddy’s signature comedic timing and one-liners, Botet’s performance in the role might be an excellent way to reinvigorate the franchise and create a new version of Freddy.
4 Walton Goggins
Known For: Justified, Fallout, Vice Principals
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Goggins’ role as The Ghoul in Fallout helped showcase his ability to pivot between terror and comedy, much like Freddy. His performances range between intense drama and dark comedy, just as the A Nightmare on Elm Street films tend to do. Goggins’ experience with these versatile rules can help him embody the humor and tragedy of the Freddy character.
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The Ghoul is brought to life by Goggins, amplified by his ability to add personality to his characters. Besides his finger claws and sweater, Freddy is best known for his funny one-liners and sassy attitude. With the same gusto he used in Fallout, Goggins could help remake Freddy in his own creepy and ghoulish image. The Ghoul also showed that Goggins is comfortable acting under heavy makeup and prosthetics, just as the Freddy role requires.
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Goggins’ other horror roles include a performance in Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses. His acting resume is also spotted with a few high-profile Quentin Tarantino movies, which has gained him some regard within the industry. Though he doesn’t have an extensive horror film resume, Goggins has proved himself to be a creepy character actor who might be up to the challenge of the legendary Freddy Krueger.
3 Devon Sawa
Known For: Final Destination, Hunter Hunter, Chucky
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Sawa has a major horror movie resume, from early works like Idle Hands and Final Destination to recent appearances in the Child’s Play franchise. It’s easy to imagine him taking the next step as an iconic villain, especially after the recent cancelation of Chucky season 4. Even Sawa himself likes the idea of playing the villain after Englund’s retirement, publicly stating that he would want to follow in Englund’s footsteps.
Sawa knows it would be difficult to live up to audience expectations and do the character justice, as it would be for any replacement.
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In multiple tweets, Sawa responded positively to fans casting him as the villain. Despite this enthusiasm, Sawa seems to understand the large shadow left by Englund, whose interpretation of Freddy is now a beloved horror figure, and the fans’ apprehension about his involvement. Sawa knows it would be difficult to live up to audience expectations and do the character justice, as it would be for any replacement. Though he already has a significant horror career, a major role like Freddy Krueger could ruin Sawa’s reputation.
2 Jackie Earle Haley
Known For: Watchmen, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), The Union
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Unlike other contenders for the Freddy replacement, Haley has already played the unique role of Krueger in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street in 2010. Though his film is poorly regarded in the franchise, many agree that the movie suffered because of the writing and makeup, not because of Haley’s acting. If given a better project and script, Haley has a chance to redeem himself as Freddy.
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Freddy Krueger is Haley’s best-known horror role, with his other credit being in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows. His more popular roles are in the Bad News Bears franchise in the 1970s and, more recently, in Watchmen. Haley has proved he has the acting skills to play Freddy and replace Englund, and many fans believe he deserves a chance for redemption, though it is likely any reboot would choose a fresh face to distance itself from the 14% Rotten Tomatoes flop in 2010.
1 Kevin Bacon
Known For: Friday the 13th, Hollow Man, Tremors, Stir of Echoes
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Kevin Bacon has an impressive horror-acting resume. He even had an early role in another classic ’80s slasher, Friday the 13th. He later went on to star in other horror films including Tremors, Stir of Echoes, and The Darkness. He also has experience playing movie villains, ranging from sleazy to corrupt, though his roles have never been quite as monstrous as Freddy.
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Robert Englund has publicly said he would be okay with seeing Kevin Bacon take up his iconic role. About Bacon, Englund said, “I know he respects the genre, and he’s such a fine physical actor.” Though Bacon didn’t respond enthusiastically, he also didn’t decline the suggestion, humoring the possibility. He said, “Never say never,” but also admitted there are few roles he would ever give a direct no to. With Englund’s blessing, Bacon might be the only Freddy Krueger replacement fans will accept in A Nightmare on Elm Street.
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
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The Nightmare on Elm Street is a horror franchise that began with the 1984 film directed by Wes Craven. The series centers on Freddy Krueger, a former child killer who, after being burned alive by the parents of his victims, returns as a vengeful spirit who kills teenagers in their dreams. The franchise became a cornerstone of the horror genre, spawning nine films, a television series, novels, comics, video games, and more. Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund in most of the films, is one of the most iconic characters in horror history. The series is known for its imaginative and terrifying dream sequences, blending slasher elements with supernatural horror.
Created by Wes Craven Latest Film A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) First Film A Nightmare on Elm Street First TV Show Freddy’s Nightmares Cast Robert Englund , Heather Langenkamp , Johnny Depp , Patricia Arquette , Lisa Wilcox , Mark Patton , Jackie Earle Haley , John Saxon , Amanda Wyss , Ken Sagoes Spin-offs (Movies) Freddy vs. Jason TV Show(s) Freddy’s Nightmares Expand