Mar 2 2009Should Rorschach Be New Krueger?

The role did nearly nothing for Robert Englund but ensure him horror cult status and a place in the sequels, but apparently the part of Freddy Krueger is now a hot commodity, and the fan favorite to put on the bladed glove is Jackie Earle Haley. The Academy Award-nominated actor spoke to MTV about the chances of him becoming the official Nightmare of Elm Street, and his Watchmen co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan chimed in too:

“You know, I did hear about that just recently,” the Oscar-nominee smiled when we asked him about the Freddy rumors recently. “A lot of people have been asking me.”

And although rumors that he was near signing on the dotted line appear to be false, Haley is more than willing to talk to Bay and his team if they want to contact him.

“You know,” he said with a grin. “I’m curious.”

In many ways, the casting would make sense. Haley is only slightly older than Englund was when he first took over the Freddy role, has a nonexistent hairline that would make the Freddy makeup easier, and resurrected his career (with “Little Children”) playing a deranged-but-somewhat-sympathetic man who preyed on kids.

“I personally would love to see him as Freddy Krueger,” added Haley’s “Watchmen” co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “I can’t think of anyone else that could pull it off.”

I agree Haley would be good for the part, but Morgan is really overstating things to imply he might be the only actor capable of pulling it off. In fact, I'd suggest to whoever directs the next Nightmare on Elm Street that they look beyond human actors into the stuff of true nightmares...

That's right: a sprinting Asimo with an erection. Obviously the knife and face of Brian Peppers would be replaced with a knife-covered glove and Freddy mask, respectively, but this quick-creeping automaton is infinitely more frightening than anything an actor could portray. If producers want an updated Elm Street, this is unarguably the New Nightmare.

(Thanks to Kevin for making this unbearable animation that still lingers in my mind years after its completion.)