The idea of anyone playing Freddy Krueger other than Robert Englund is one of those conversations that is always going to end in some fiery social media opinions. While there has already been one attempt to reboot A Nightmare on Elm Street over a decade ago, the film was hampered by the feeling of “seen-that-been-there,” coupled with the fact that many fans just didn’t gel with Jackie Earle Haley’s portrayal of the iconic villain. However, Englund has previously said that he believes Kevin Bacon should be the next to take on the role, and the ever-popular Bacon has now responded to the idea.

Having played child-murdering Krueger in all seven original Elm Street movies, a Friday the 13th crossover, a short-lived TV series and numerous other guest appearances, Robert Englund essentially is Freddy Krueger. Unlike Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, who don’t speak and have their faces hidden behind a mask, Krueger’s features and voice all come from Englund, and that makes it difficult for fans to get past a recasting. However, as Englund’s choice, it seems that Kevin Bacon stands by his motto of “never say never” when it comes to possibly taking on the mantle.

“Never say never. I mean, I say, "Never say never," but I really do follow that. There's very few things that I go, "Nah, nah." You just never know.”

Related: A Nightmare on Elm Street Gave Freddy Krueger Actor Robert Englund Nightmares

Kevin Bacon Has a Long History With Horror Movies

Kevin Bacon Tremors
Universal Pictures 

Kevin Bacon has starred in some of the most iconic movies of the last four decades, and it all started when he found himself being one of the earliest victims of Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th. While Bacon has appeared in many blockbusters such as Apollo 11, Mystic River, A Few Good Men and Frost/Nixon, the actor has never been too far away from his next foray into the darker side of cinema.

Bacon took the lead in the movies Tremors and Flatliners in 1990, and these were followed by Stir of Echoes, Hollow Man, The Darkness, and his latest horror thriller, They/Them, which focuses on a group of LGBTQ arriving at a conversion camp, only to find that mysterious figure is killing people at night. Bacon is also set to appear in the reboot of The Toxic Avenger alongside Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood.

While it would take a special kind of person to take over the role of Freddy Krueger from Robert Englund, putting someone like Kevin Back in the part could be one of the only ways to get around the quandary of how the franchise can continue without its original lead, who seems to be pretty sure that he will not be back in the razor-glove again. The popularity of Bacon, and his ability to bring some pretty villainous characters to life on screen, could be enough to allow fans to look past the “but it’s not Robert Englund” issues. It seems that when it comes to long-standing horror icons, few options please everyone, as many have found with the recent recasting of Pinhead in Hulu’s new Hellraiser, but bringing someone like Bacon to Elm Street may work. Never say never.