Freddy Krueger Actor Robert Englund to be Subject of New Documentary
Robert Englund, who played the dream killer Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, will be the subject of a new documentary.
A new documentary will explore the life of A Nightmare on Elm Street star Robert Englund. Englund first rose to prominence in the 1984 supernatural slasher, which was directed by Scream and The Last House on the Left's Wes Craven. He played the notorious villain Freddy Krueger, a child killer who comes back from the dead to get revenge on the children of the townspeople who burned him to death. The film was a massive success and Englund became more or less synonymous with the character, going on to play Krueger in 6 sequels, a crossover with Friday the 13th, and the short-lived anthology TV series Freddy's Nightmares.
Although it is his best-known role, Englund is more than just Freddy Krueger. He'd go on to appear in a number of other horror films, including Urban Legend and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. The actor began his career a full decade before starring in Elm Street, even appearing in a minor uncredited role in the Barbra Streisand film A Star is Born. Other early roles include the 1981 cult sci-fi flick Galaxy of Terror and appearances on TV series like CHiPS and Charlie's Angels. And his career is far from over, as he's about to appear in Stranger Things season 4 as Victor Creel, the owner of the haunted Creel House.
Per Deadline, a documentary titled Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story has just wrapped filming. The film, which was produced by Cult Screenings UK Ltd with Unannounced Films, has been shooting over the past two years in London. The film was directed by Gary Smart, who co-wrote it with Neil Morris. Smart has writing credits on other horror documentaries including 2021's Pennywise: The Story of It and 2015's Hell on Earth: The Story of Hellraiser III. He is currently in post-production on the doc What an Institution: The Story of Police Academy, which he also directed.
In addition to a brand new exclusive interview with Englund himself, the documentary will feature many talking heads from throughout his life and career. Included in the lineup is Englund's wife Nancy Booth, who has been with the actor since 1988. Also included are his Elm Street co-stars Heather Langenkamp and Lin Shaye, House of 1000 Corpses star Bill Moseley, Aliens star Lance Henriksen, Hostel director Eli Roth, and Tony Todd, who portrays another notorious horror villain: Candyman.
It's about time that the A Nightmare on Elm Street star had his due. That franchise would not have had the longevity and success it currently enjoys if not for his fully committed portrayal of the villain. Hearing in his own words what led him to the creation of that indelible character and the impact it had on his life and career is certain to be a fascinating journey worth exploring.
Source: Deadline