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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
In February 2009, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Robert Englund would not reprise the role of Freddy Krueger for the remake; Englund had performed the role for all eight films. On April 3, 2009 Entertainment Weekly reported that Jackie Earle Haley was cast to take over Englund's most well known role. Initially, the studio wanted to cast an unknown for the role of Freddy Krueger, but it was Haley's performance in Little Children that impressed Emmerich enough to cast the actor against the original intentions. Emmerich explains, "Freddy is this incredible stew of malevolence and anger, but he also has a hint of vulnerability, and Jackie really has all of that and more. He just seemed completely right for the part." Bayer stated that he, Andrew Form, and Brad Fuller managed to acquire the screen test Haley gave as Rorschach for Watchmen; after viewing it, Bayer said it "blew [his] mind", and that he knew Haley would be able to go deep and create a believable character who was a "[psychopath] with a burned face and a claw".
Haley is contracted for three films, which includes the remake and two sequels. Englund has stated that he agrees with the casting of Haley, noting that he feels Haley's physical size will work for him in this role. In an interview with Kyle Gallner, who is portraying the role of Nancy's boyfriend Quentin, the actor acknowledges that this Freddy will be closer to his 1984 counterpart; Gallner refers to this version as more of a "sinister, straight-faced monster" than the "jokester" that arose in the later sequels. Explaining why they chose to take away the comical aspect of Freddy's personality, Form and Fuller stated, "We've never been attracted to a jokey antagonist because it feels less scary and less real". Even though the character will be closer to how he was portrayed in the original film, Haley has stated that he does not intend to have Englund's performances influence his own. Haley states that he uses the frustration of having to sit in the make-up chair for three and a half hours as his motivation to get into character. Discussing his physical appearance, Form and Fuller explained that Freddy will be more similar to a real burn victim.
Rooney Mara will play the role of Nancy Thompson, and she is also contracted for a sequel. Other confirmed cast members include Thomas Dekker as Jesse, a jock on the swim team, and Kellan Lutz as Dean, "a well-liked, well-off high school jock". Katie Cassidy, Connie Britton and Clancy Brown will also star.