Anna Daniels
When a direct sequel isn’t in the cards and a reboot has already failed, Hollywood often turns to prequels. It’s not the worst idea when it comes to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, as Krueger has a built-in backstory.
As Englund put it in a 2020 interview with Syfy Wire: “I think that the franchise probably deserves a really good prequel. There’s never been an entire movie devoted to Freddy before he was burned and the crimes and getting caught by the police and going on trial and getting away with killing children. We know that he was set free, so to me, the great part in the prequel is gonna be the lawyers, the lawyers that get him off …. and then, of course, the ending would be the vigilante parents burning him.”
This was, in fact, the premise of the first episode of 1988’s Freddy’s Nightmares, an anthology TV series about the town of Springwood. There also exists an unproduced script written by John Saxon, who plays Lt. Donald Thompson in the original film, that portrays Freddy as an innocent man, framed by Charles Manson. Could all of this interest, talent, and track record add up to a satisfying prequel? It’s a possibility — but actualizing it remains a risk no creator has been willing to take.
Written by: Looper
