Freddy Krueger is one of the most iconic names in horror. When A Nightmare on Elm Street hit theaters in 1984, the Wes Craven flick changed the way the public saw horror movies. Thanks to Freddy as well as Jason Voorhees, slasher films were dominating the box office. So much so, that Krueger was essentially a rock star. Everything from a syndicated television series to merchandise (lunch boxes, kids' dolls, and so much more) were produced. Freddy was at the top of the world, and then he fell silent.

As the '80s became the '90s, the popularity of the slasher film waned. Now, the Nightmare movies are but memories. In the brief remake craze of the late 2000s and early 2010s, a remake was released that looked to take the franchise back to its serious roots. That film was a critical failure, with a 15% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was released 12 years ago; fans haven't officially seen Freddy in a Nightmare on Elm Street project since.

Now, it seems like the latest horror fad is legacy sequels, movies that bring back original characters to face the killer once more. There have long been rumors of fans being able to return to Elm Street, but as of now, there is nothing concrete in place. In 2019, the estate of the late Wes Craven earned back the domestic rights of the franchise, meaning that Freddy is back where he belongs. On top of this, Heather Langenkamp is interested in returning, and even Robert Englund reprised his role in an episode of The Goldbergs, showing that he hasn't completely abandoned Freddy yet. Now is a great time to revive the classic killer, but how could this work?

New Reigns For A Nightmare on Elm Street

Wes Craven
New Line

Unfortunately, in 2015, horror maestro and Nightmare on Elm Street creator Wes Craven passed away. If Freddy were to return, it would be the first film since Wes' passing. Craven wrote and directed the original film, wrote and produced the third Elm Street entry, and brought the series into meta territory with Wes Craven's New Nightmare years before he brought meta to the mainstream with Scream. Outside these three films in the franchise, Craven had nothing to do with the series. Regardless of this, fans are apprehensive about a film released after Craven's passing.

While it would certainly be nice to have a Craven-approved sequel, this doesn't mean it is out of the question. After all, Craven directed all four of the Scream movies released during his lifetime. Fans had similar worries when a fifth movie was going to be made without him, but Scream 5 worked in the eyes of many. What made the film successful and won fans over was that it never tried to be a Wes Craven movie. It served as a tribute to the late director while carrying his legacy in a new direction. This is the first step in making a successful Nightmare on Elm Street reboot.

A Nightmare on Elm Street
New Line Cinema 

It has been proven through some of the sloppier sequels that nobody can quite do Freddy like Wes. Should the franchise be rebooted, a new direction should be taken instead of attempting (and failing) to mimic Craven. Freddy Krueger and the Elm Street legacy can have hints of Craven's influence, but ultimately the character needs to be fresh. The ideal way of doing this is by hiring filmmakers that love the franchise. The original film inspired the creativity of audiences in 1984. Many of those audience members are now filmmakers themselves, and they are the ones that need to resurrect Freddy.

Jason Blum, who recently had a hand in successfully reviving the Halloween franchise, has expressed interest in making a new movie. He even claims he can convince Robert Englund to return. Even Elijah Wood has claimed that his production company would be perfect for the job. Stranger Things' creators The Duffer Brothers have shown they could handle a Nightmare on Elm Street, as the latest season of the show is oozing with Elm Street's influence (and actually stars Robert Englund). Whoever takes the nearly impossible task of following in Craven's footsteps should be a fan. If they are indifferent to the series then it won't work. But let's say the perfect filmmaker is attached, what then?

A New Nightmare

Dream Warriors
New Line Cinema

The Nightmare on Elm Street sequels are sloppy, to say the least. Like with many slasher franchises, continuity isn't exactly the main focus. The last time fans saw the original Freddy, he was a decapitated head being carried by Jason Voorhees. With the extensive lawsuit currently going on with Jason and the Friday the 13th series, making a film following this is unlikely. The Elm Street remake has some fans but is far too risky to make a follow-up to.

There are two options for this to work, either a legacy sequel or a full reset of the series. As stated before, Heather Langenkamp is open to reviving Nancy. As the Blumhouse-produced Halloween series has shown (and the upcoming new Exorcist movies will likely show), sequels that ignore a majority of the previous films do have potential. This could allow Nancy to return after being killed off in Dream Warriors. She could also be seen as a ghost, lurking in the dream world trying to keep Freddy at bay. On the other side of the coin, the franchise could get a fresh start. Fans may not like it, but it could work if they give it a chance.

RELATED: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors Celebrated by Fans on 35th Anniversary

As the franchise went on during the '80s, Freddy got sillier and sillier. He fully embraced his pop-culture status, and he became a wisecracking clown as opposed to a serious killer. A remake of sorts could ensure that Freddy returns to the dark roots Wes Craven envisioned for him. The film doesn't have to be a full-on remake of the original film like the 2010 version, however. The movie can be an original story with entirely new characters. This would avoid some comparison and allow the film to stand on its own. A new entry could also combine these elements by being a mostly original story with some aspects of the previous films sprinkled in.

One popular request from fans is for the series to go back to the beginning. Freddy's backstory has been seen briefly in the movies and was even seen in some episodes of the Freddy's Nightmares series. There is even a fan film called Krueger: A Tale From Elm Street that tackles this, showing that the idea has potential. A feature-length film showing a young Freddy could be entertaining if done right. There has even been interest in an animated movie, which would be perfect. An animated film would allow for a crazy and inventive story that wouldn't be able to be told in live-action, and could unleash an even darker creative imagination than any of the other films; the recent and brilliantly disturbing movie Mad God certainly proves that animation can be extremely dark and serious. Regardless of where a new movie goes, there is one important element that must be discussed. The man himself, Freddy Krueger.

Freddy Krueger, the Springwood Slasher

Nightmare 2010
New Line Cinema

Ideally, Robert Englund would return to the big screen as Freddy. This is what every fan wants, but this may not be what they get. Englund has loosely retired from the role, stating disinterest in the extensive make-up required. He did reprise the role in a cameo appearance in The Goldbergs, but that is it. Given Robert's age, it is easy to see why he would be apprehensive to return. The makeup issue Englund has can be worked around, however.

Freddy has been shown to be able to change his form. Perhaps Freddy could look different throughout most of the film. He could be too weak to take on a physical form, or he could be in disguise with Englund simply voicing him. Having Freddy appear as fans know and love him in the climax would be well with the wait, and would ensure Englund only has to do a few days worth of make-up work. Englund has also said he would be down to voice Freddy in an animated movie, adding more fuel to that fire.

Robert Englund in A Nightmare on Elm Street.
New Line Cinema

As much as fans don't want to admit it, it is likely the next Nightmare on Elm Street movie will not feature Robert Englund. This isn't the kiss of death for a new movie, however. 2010's remake had some issues for sure, but Jackie Earl Haley's performance isn't among them. People have some criticisms about his look, but there is no doubt he is a scary Freddy. This shows that as long as respect for Robert's work is given, it is okay to pass Freddy's torch. Even Englund himself says it is okay to cast someone else, stating Kevin Bacon is his preferred choice. The important thing is for fans to keep an open mind. As long as the movie is scary and respects the legacies of Wes Craven and Robert Englund, it is okay to cast a new Freddy.

There are a number of ways Freddy Krueger can return from the dead. It would be great to see Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund reunite one last time, but a fresh start shouldn't be written off completely. Whatever happens, fans are patiently waiting for the triumphant return of Freddy Krueger, and look forward to some new nightmares.