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
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"
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 ending explained: who dies, who is Ghostface and will there be a Scream 8?
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
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
Billie Roy in Lee Cronin's The Mummy
Horror Movies Upcoming horror movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 takes franchise over $1 billion, joining the likes of The Conjuring, Alien, and Resident Evil
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 reviews, cast, plot, and everything you need to know about the latest installment
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 doesn't actually use the real Stu Macher house, but the crew did burn the set down for real
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
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies Scream fans are confused over Stu Macher's return to the franchise in Scream 7: "It’s still up in the air as always"
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Horror Movies Neve Campbell says Scream 7 is "full circle" for Sidney, who is protecting her daughter 30 years after her mother died
Corin Hardy directing Dafne Keen on the set of Whistle
Horror Movies Whistle director breaks down the gory horror movie's surprisingly sweet ending: "I wanted it to be gentle"
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Original Scream 7 directors reveal plans they had to “f*** you up” with the sequel they never got to make
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Horror Movies
  4. a nightmare on elm street

A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending: "Pretty much everyone agreed it was false advertising"

News
By Megan Garside published 9 January 2026

The dream demons almost took over a new victim

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

Over 20 years later, the director behind the sixth installment of A Nightmare on Elm Street has revealed that Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare actually had an alternate ending that was filmed.

"I don't know how well known it is that there's an additional ending, a coda, to Freddy's Dead. Something we filmed, and it seems like no one has the footage at all. I know we shot it, and I even had an edit, but it's gone MIA," said director Rachel Talalay over on her YouTube channel, How I Filmed This.

The version of Freddy's Dead released on screen ended with final girl Maggie tearing off Freddy's clawed glove and stabbing him with it. Then, Maggie proceeds to throw a pipe bomb into Freddy's chest, forcing the three dream demons to fly out of Freddy as the bomb kills him. However, in the never-before-seen ending, the dream demons leave Freddy's body and go on to find a new host to turn into a supernatural killer.

You may like
  • Ghostface in Scream 7 Original Scream 7 directors reveal plans they had to “f*** you up” with the sequel they never got to make
  • Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996 Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
  • Finn Wolfhard as Mike and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5 New Stranger Things documentary confirms season 5 could have ended very differently

The lost ending was actually filmed, and Talalay has the receipts to prove it. "What I did find in my archives was proof that we did film the ending per the script," said the director. In the still below, you can see the script where the demons approach a young boy who was no doubt meant to be the new Freddy Krueger. "This coda basically had the demons from Freddy going into another boy’s body. The cycle perpetuates."

The script for the Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare lost ending

(Image credit: Rachel Talalay - How I Filmed This)

Talalay says the sequence was cut out of the film "almost immediately," before screen testing. "It was pretty much agreed universally that you can't call the film Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare and have a coda like that... Pretty much everyone agreed it was false advertising."

The alternate ending would have completely changed the franchise as we know it, introducing a new horror figure to Elm Street. The 1991 movie was actually supposed to be the last film in the franchise, and was supposed to kill off Freddy Krueger for good. That is until he was resurrected in Wes Craven's New Nightmare in 1994, followed by the 2003 mash-up Freddy vs. Jason, and the 2010 Nightmare on Elm Street remake.

For more, check out our list of the best horror movies, and keep up with upcoming horror movies heading your way.

Sign up for the Total Film 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.
Megan Garside
Megan Garside
Social Links Navigation
Junior Social Media Editor, GamesRadar+

I'm the Junior Social Media Editor here at GamesRadar+, handling all of Total Film's social platforms. However, I also write, covering all things film and TV for the site's entertainment section. I joined GamesRadar+ in 2023 and have been here ever since. I previously worked in communications after graduating with an MA in journalism. In my spare time, you can find me binging horror movies or getting lost in a cosy little game on my Switch.

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
Ghostface in Scream 7
Original Scream 7 directors reveal plans they had to “f*** you up” with the sequel they never got to make
 
 
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
 
 
Finn Wolfhard as Mike and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things season 5
New Stranger Things documentary confirms season 5 could have ended very differently
 
 
Whistle movie
New horror Whistle features a death scene so "insane", its director had never seen anything like it on screen before
 
 
Emma Roberts as Jill Roberts in Scream 4
Scream writer had a totally different plan for the franchise before Ready or Not directors took over for Scream 5 and 6
 
 
Ghostface in Scream 7
Scream 7 ending explained: who dies, who is Ghostface and will there be a Scream 8?
 
 
Latest in Horror Movies
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
 
 
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
The Bride bombs at the box office with $13.6 million opening against a $90 million budget
 
 
Midnight Mass (2021)
Mike Flanagan's Exorcist movie adds 11 familiar faces from the Flana-verse
 
 
Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem Leon actor says he's "cautiously optimistic" about upcoming film adaptation from Weapons director
 
 
Nina Kiri as Evy in Undertone
Undertone releases another creepy teaser, and it looks like there's more to the upcoming horror movie than we thought
 
 
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
The Bride earns mixed first reviews, as critics call it everything from "a modern classic" to "unholy mess"
 
 
Latest in News
Elsa Bloodshot in Marvel Rivals
Marvel Rivals devs felt "panic" at the thought of going into the live-service graveyard that just claimed Highguard
 
 
Palworld Pal with shocked expression
"I wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," says Pocketpair publishing head, but don't expect a "No Man's Sky situation"
 
 
Dafne Keen brandishing her claws as Laura/X-23 in Deadpool and Wolverine
Marvel fans are debating whether Dafne Keen should become Wolverine or stay as X-23, and I've already chosen a side
 
 
Peak mesa biome
Peak came about after a bet between Content Warning and Another Crab's Treasure leads to see whose game would sell more
 
 
Key art for Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred showing Mephisto, a spiky and angular demon, against a red, lightning backdrop, arm and claw raised menancingly, cropped to show more of him
Diablo 4's Lord of Hatred expansion will be "really f*cking hard" at its highest difficulty, dev threatens
 
 
Jin, Mugen, and Fuu standing in a row
Samurai Champloo is getting a live-action Netflix series from One Piece studio, and the original creator is on board
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Elsa Bloodshot in Marvel Rivals
    1
    Marvel Rivals devs couldn't help but "panic" at the thought of going into the live-service graveyard that just claimed Highguard: "It's not guaranteed"
  2. 2
    "It's going to be really f***ing hard": Diablo 4 is getting 8 new difficulty tiers in Lord of Hatred because Blizzard wants OP builds to actually have to try
  3. 3
    Marvel fans are debating whether Dafne Keen should become Wolverine or stay as X-23, and I've already chosen a side
  4. 4
    "I wouldn't rule out a Palworld 2.0," says Pocketpair publishing head, but don't expect a "No Man's Sky situation" with a "decade of continuous, massive updates"
  5. 5
    "Whoever sells more copies pays for the other's therapy": Peak came about after a bet between Content Warning and Another Crab's Treasure leads, and ironically the friendslop collab that followed sold more than both games combined

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...