Jackie Earle Haley rumored to play new Freddy Krueger

We learned earlier that Robert Englund would be replaced for the first time as Freddy Krueger in the new remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, but we didn’t really speculate who would be cast in his place. Other fans did, and they’ve begun to lobby hard for Jackie Earle Haley, a co-star of Watchmen who’s probably best known for his terrifying Oscar-nominated turn in Little Children.

MTV caught up with the actor, who said that he had heard the possibility mentioned before. Of course, earlier, pretty hilarious rumors about the cast have turned out to be false, so hopes shouldn’t get too high.

On the other hand, as MTV also points out, fans successfully lobbied Michael Chiklis into Fantastic Four. And Haley is certainly a viable candidate for the part—he played a convincing pedophile in Little Children (so he has experience!), and it’s probably now or never since he has started to land more high-profile roles, like the one in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island later this year. The new Nightmare is set to open April 16, 2010.

Related links:
News: Nightmare on Elm Street reboot confirmed
News: Wes Craven creates Google logo for Halloween
News: Platnuim Dunes to spawn new Rosemary's Baby

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.