Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
Horror Movies After the first two movies were written by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy's 3 reportedly has new screenwriters
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream's Kevin Williamson won't direct Scream 8, and admits "no one is talking" about making a new Scream movie just yet
Ash from The Evil Dead
Horror Movies Evil Dead's Bruce Campbell explains why he hasn't played Ash in a movie since 2013
Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman in Happy Death Day
Horror Movies Happy Death Day director sets horror return with supernatural pic that may or may not be set on an airplane
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Scream 7 director crushes the fan theory that Stu Macher is alive and will return in Scream 8: "That's a big stretch"
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 reviews, cast, plot, and everything you need to know about the latest installment
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Matthew Lillard has addressed his rather confusing Scream 2 cameo, all but confirming that it's not Stu Macher
Cover of Universal Monsters Classics Collection featuring portraits of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, the Phantom of the Opera, and the Creature From the Black Lagoon
Horror Shows Scream 7 director is bringing the Universal monsters to Netflix in a show that's described as an "adult Vampire Diaries"
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Neve Campbell says Scream 7 won't be "as gory" as Scream 5 and 6, as they went "off path" from Wes Craven's vision
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 has hit screens, and franchise fans are already questioning the new Ghostface killers' rather confusing motives
Neve Campbell and Kevin Williamson behind the scenes of Scream 7
Horror Movies Neve Campbell already has a "great idea" for Scream 8, but only if the fans respond well to Scream 7
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream
Horror Movies Neve Campbell reflects on 30 years of Scream and why that first movie became a genre classic
Christian Bale as Frank in The Bride
Horror Movies Christian Bale on exploring the more "comedic" sides of Frankenstein's monster in new sci-fi horror The Bride
The Jimmys in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Horror Movies New 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple fan theory adds dark context to Sir Jimmy Crystal's murderous cult
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 may not be the final movie in the franchise after all, as new report suggests eighth film is being mapped out
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Horror Movies
  4. a nightmare on elm street

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 director says Robert Englund is the "only" Freddy Krueger for him, but thinks Jim Carrey could pull off the iconic horror villain

News
By Emily Garbutt published 23 October 2025

But only if the franchise went in a "bold new direction"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
(Image credit: New Line Cinema)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors director Chuck Russell thinks Jim Carrey could take on the role of ghostly child killer Freddy Krueger – but only if there was a "bold new direction" for the horror franchise.

"Jim, in my opinion, could almost do anything if he put his heart into it," Russell told Dread Central. "For Jim to do it, we’d have to do something that was another leap in the Elm Street series – a little bit like what Wes did with his very meta New Nightmare. I think Jim would only consider it, and I’d only consider harnessing Jim, if there was a bold new direction for Elm Street."

"I still think Robert, for me, is the only Freddy," he added. "Were I to be involved in a new Elm Street, A, I’d be delighted, and B, my first goal would be to get Robert involved."

You may like
  • Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending
  • Ghostface holding a knife covered in blood during Scream 5. Scream 7's creepiest character reveals he originally auditioned 1996's Scream but got bad feedback from Wes Craven
  • Five Nights at Freddy's 2 After the first two movies were written by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy's 3 reportedly has new screenwriters

Russell and Carrey previously worked together on The Mask, in which Carrey plays timid, down-on-his-luck bank employee Stanley, who finds an enchanted mask that transforms him into a green-faced trickster.

Englund's last outing as Krueger was in 2003's Freddy vs. Jason, which saw a crossover between the Elm Street antagonist and Friday the 13th villain Jason Vorhees. Jackie Earle Haley took over the role for the 2010 remake of Wes Craven's original film, and there hasn't been a franchise installment since.

"I think, for the sake of the franchise, they need to find someone like a Doug Jones. Years ago, I heard they were considering Kevin Bacon for Freddy Krueger," Englund said recently about his future potential replacement. "I was trying to think of someone like that, if he were going to look for a name, like Kevin Bacon. But I think they probably should steer themselves to someone more unknown that doesn’t have to worry about following in my footsteps or anything else, just creating his own conception of the character."

For more, check out our guide to the best upcoming horror movies to add to your watchlist.

Emily Garbutt
Emily Garbutt
Social Links Navigation
Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related. I help bring you all the latest news, features, and reviews, as well as helming our Big Screen Spotlight column. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger
A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending
 
 
Ghostface holding a knife covered in blood during Scream 5.
Scream 7's creepiest character reveals he originally auditioned 1996's Scream but got bad feedback from Wes Craven
 
 
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
After the first two movies were written by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy's 3 reportedly has new screenwriters
 
 
Ghostface in Scream 7
Original Scream 7 directors reveal plans they had to “f*** you up” with the sequel they never got to make
 
 
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Christian Bale says it's a "bold choice" to remake American Psycho: "Whoever wants to give it a shot, give it a pop!"
 
 
Evil Dead director Sam Raimi reveals his favorite horror movies include Jaws and The Grudge
 
 
Latest in Horror Movies
Michael B. Jordan in Ryan Coogler's vampire horror Sinners
Oscars 2026 live coverage: All the winners, red carpet, and the 97th Academy Awards' biggest moments – as it happens
 
 
Michael Johnston as Bear and Inde Navarrette as Nikki in Obsession
You'll wish you'd been ghosted after watching the new trailer for upcoming horror movie Obsession
 
 
Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter staring at each other in prison during the movie The Silence of the Lambs.
Hannibal creator says his "dream" Silence of the Lambs adaptation is "still out there in the universe"
 
 
Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman in Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day director sets horror return with supernatural pic that may or may not be set on an airplane
 
 
Ash from The Evil Dead
Evil Dead's Bruce Campbell explains why he hasn't played Ash in a movie since 2013
 
 
Phoebe Dynevor in Thrash
Stay clear of the water this summer as yet another shark horror movie is on the way, and its first trailer is terrifying
 
 
Latest in News
Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons.
Weapons star Amy Madigan wins Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars 2026 in a big move for horror recognition
 
 
Chained Echoes
Creator of acclaimed retro-style RPG Chained Echoes prepares a lawsuit against physical game publisher
 
 
Palworld
"Palworld is going to be the survival crafting game everyone always wanted" after 1.0, says Pocketpair publishing lead
 
 
A screenshot of the upcoming PS5 game, Ghost of Yotei.
Ghost of Yotei devs "really enjoy watching people die" to superboss Takezo the Unrivaled, but know you loathe him
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Gustave in a French-inspired outfit
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you": Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 writer is tight-lipped about the RPG series' future
 
 
Invincible season 4
Invincible creator Robert Kirkman says fans will "finally get what they're asking for" with the introduction of Thragg
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys in Weapons.
    1
    Weapons star Amy Madigan wins Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars 2026 in a big move for horror recognition in awards season
  2. 2
    Oscars 2026 live coverage: All the winners, red carpet, and the 98th Academy Awards' biggest moments – as it happens
  3. 3
    Donkey Kong Bananza devs want to make sure Mario and DK's games feel different: "Is there perhaps a slightly different kind of person that might prefer one character over the other?"
  4. 4
    Creator of acclaimed retro-style RPG Chained Echoes prepares a lawsuit against physical game publisher, and looks to compensate Kickstarter backers
  5. 5
    Nacon just unveiled the RIG R5 Spear Max HD headset, and I'm ecstatic the snap-lock feature is here to stay

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...