Haley Signs to Play Krueger

Jackie Earle Haley will step behind the mask for another iconic role later this year when the actor takes over for Robert Englundand Freddy Krueger in the upcoming “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Haley has signed to play the iconic screen villain in the new production for New Line.

The original “Nightmare,” released in 1984, helped establish New Line and spawned a slew of movies. Krueger is a serial child killer murdered by angry parents who returns to terrorize teens in their dreams.

Krueger’s burned face, his razor glove and his red-and-green sweater became instantly recognizable images as well as popular Halloween costumes.

Haley was on a short list of stars targeted for the role of Kruger.  His performance as Rorschach in “Watchmen” helped put him in the lead for the role of the horror icon.

“Looking at his performance in ‘Watchmen,’ here’s a guy playing a character under a mask yet you feel tremendous empathy for him,” said director Samuel Bayer of the actor. “And in Nightmare,’ he is going to be under prosthetic make-up. You have to feel something for the character. The greatest villains are multi-dimensional and I think he will bring that to the character.”

Bayer, who called this take of Krueger “Nosferatu meets Ed Gaines,” is not afraid that Hayley is in any danger of being typecast the way Englund was. “It’s what you bring to the material. He’s a well-rounded actor who will not be stereotyped by this. If anything, he’ll be celebrated for it.”

Production begins in May on the updated version.