Elm Street: Why Robert Englund brought Freddy to The Goldbergs

With Robert Englund recently reprising Freddy Krueger on the hit ABC comedy, The Goldbergs, the horror icon is revealing why he reemerged from the boiler room.

One…two…The Goldbergs are coming for you…..

It’s been fifteen years since Freddy Krueger clashed with the hockey masked madman, Jason Voorhees, in Freddy vs Jason. Since, the man beneath the makeup has refused countless offers for a Krueger return. That was, of course, until the screen veteran shocked the world by coming back from the boiler room on the hit ABC series, The Goldbergs.

Why did the icon decided to bring Krueger back? Thanks to Bloody-Disgusting, we have the dreamy answer. Here’s what Englund is saying about why he put on the red and green sweater one more time in an interview with the New York Post:

"“I’ve been very protective of the character for years … I said no to [series creator] Adam [Goldberg]. And then he sent me probably the most beautiful fan letter I ever received, telling me how much A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors meant to him. And then I started thinking about my fans, how it dovetails with the ’80s experience and this sort of retro memory play that The Goldbergs is about.”"

The terror titian, who’s now entertaining the idea of playing Freddy again in a new film, goes on to say:

"“Freddy’s been absorbed by popular culture. There’s Hello Kitty decals now. He’s been on The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy, Rick and Morty. He’s in comic books. He’s everywhere with action figures and dolls and stuff, late-night talk show punch lines. It’s like Frankenstein now: he’s just a by-word, a logo for the memory of an experience. So I was able to kind of make peace.”"

More from A Nightmare on Elm Street

• 31 Days of Horror: ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors’ rules!
• Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: A must-see for Freddy fans
• Queer Themes in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge
• Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare — A nuanced take on abuse?!
• Robert Englund: Stay awake with his special Nightmare Blend coffee

Man, I love that Englund did it for the fans. He really is a class act.

I was able to catch the episode recently, and horror heads, it’s incredible. As a big fan of The Goldbergs already, the interaction between Freddy and Bev is seriously some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever seen. The scene intelligently gives both characters a spot, letting one play off the other — something the show excels at. Only this time, you know, its Freddy freaking Krueger. What a time to be a horror fan….

The Goldbergs airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m, only on ABC. Now fall asleep and watch Mister Knifey Hands immediately. But skip the Hypnocil, you won’t need it this time.

Fan of Freddy Krueger? See Elm Street’s fedora freak on The Goldbergs? Let the other dreamers know what you think in the comment section below.