Jackie Earle Haley Is The Next Freddy Krueger

Jackie Earle Haley - Freddy Krueger

[UPDATE: This has been confirmed - Haley is definitely playing Krueger.]

The guys over at Latino Review broke the story a very early couple of months ago that Rorschach himself, Jackie Earle Haley, was in the running to play the new Freddy Krueger in the upcoming Nightmare on Elm Street remake. However, at that point it was just that Platinum Dunes were looking at him as a possibility.

Fast forward a couple of months and it looks like Haley is, indeed, strongly in the running to play Freddy. In fact, he’s reportedly in absolute final talks to don the striped sweater, adorn the hat and slip his hand into the famous razor glove. If Haley gets the gig, he’ll be directed by Samuel Bayer (previously a music video director) who has already been chosen to helm this remake, and he’ll be shooting by the end of the month.

Haley has officially been cast as the classic horror icon. They need to step to it now that he’s been cast, as shooting is mere weeks away. Haley has been rumored for the role for a while and finally, he’s got it in the bag, and I have to say it’s a damn near perfect choice.

Haley has proven he is a fantastic actor, so there’s the acting chops box ticked. But can he be creepy enough to be Freddy Krueger? Well, in case you haven’t seen it and need evidence that he can do creepy-as-hell, check out 2006’s Little Children. In that he played a pedophile-type character, and although it’s not as black and white as that in the film, if you boil it down, he now technically has that type of character on his resume.

And let’s not forget his performance as the mysterious Rorschach in the recent Watchmen adaptation. He had that gruff, tough and intimidating (despite his relatively small stature) thing going on, which is exactly what you’d want in the guy who’s going to be Freddy Krueger.

And if nothing else, he has the look for the character. Although he’ll hardly be recognizable once the burn make-up is applied, just something about the shape of his face and the way his eyes look – he just gives off the appropriate Krueger vibes.

It looks like the recent teaser trailer that was created by Elm Street mega-fan Christopher Johnson in an attempt to get him in the running for the role, didn’t work. If you haven’t checked Johnson’s fan-made trailer I urge you to do say right away – Johnson played a pretty convincing Freddy! However, it looks like this news debunks any chance he had of getting the role.

So you have your probable Freddy Krueger – Mr Jackie Earle Haley.

BTW, if anything happens to Jackie, our very own Vic Holtreman (owner of Screen Rant) is available to step in to take over:

Separated at birth: Jackie Earle Haley and Vic Holtreman