One, two Haley’s comin’ for you.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news and said filming would begin May 5 in Chicago. Director Samuel Bayer had this to say of the actor:
“Looking at his performance in ‘Watchmen,’ here’s a guy playing a character under a mask yet you feel tremendous empathy for him,” said 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.”
Bloody Disgusting also reported The Haunting in Connecticut star Kyle Gallner will be playing Quentin in the film (a modern version of Johnny Depp’s character) which is set to be released April 16, 2010. Haley was apparently on a, no pun intended, shorlist of actors to play Freddy. “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,” said Bayer.
You know Jeremy, I think I remember hearing that story a long time ago but at the time I didn’t know who Haley was. That’s just crazy.
Billy Bob Thorton? Now THAT would be scary!
It’s Funny, because at last years SDCC the guys who re-made the Friday the 13th mentioned that they were in talks with Wes to do a new Freddy. They also said that they had Billy Bob Thorton in mind for the lead role…
Crazy huh?
I’m a big fan of Haley now because of Watchmen, so I say give the man the chance! :)
Here’s the wierdest part. over 25 years ago, when Jackie couldn’t get arrested in Hollywood, he took a young musician friend with him to an audition. That musician was Johnny Depp. The audition was the first NIghtmare movie. And Johnny got the part Jackie wanted.
I'm with Rick & Laid Off. I'm not in favor of the remake, but Kelly Leak is certainly the way to go. I'm surprised he took the role, though, coming off Watchmen and his Oscar nom for Little Children. I expected something with more prestige than a slasher film remake. Plus, it's not like he can do much in the role. He either approximates Robert Englund's performances or faces backlash from all Nightmare fans.
Have to wonder if this is a good career move, though. After all the buzz from Watchmen, it seems like he’d be better off working the indie circuit for awhile. If he wants to pull a William H. Macy or Steve Buscemi, that is.
I am still not in favor of them remaking Nightmare on Elm Street especially after how Friday the 13th turned out. However, I will say that if anyone had to take over the role from Robert Englund, Haley is the way to go. He is a very good actor and I can definitely see him pulling off the character.
Leave us not to forget that, while it might not have been a Fedora, Haley has worn a hat in three of his roles. He donned a baseball cap in the Bad News Bears movies of the 1970s.
This news has really got me interested in the remake now. If you go back and watch Jackie Earle Haley in the prison scenes in Watchmen you can really picture him as Freddy.
Plus this news combined with reports that the story updates the motives behind Freddy (kids lying to police etc) then I’m now 100% behind this movie…
I agree that’s Haley as Freddie is an excellent fit of actor and character. And I think Kyle Gallner is a very talented young actor, given his turns on Veronica Mars and Smallville.
While I remain unsure of the need for a remake at all, I can at least applaud this casting. Fingers crossed that the finished product isn’t terrible.