Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is one of the creepiest and scariest movie villains of all time. While Englund admitted that he could not play Krueger in another instalment in the horror franchise back in 2023, the character could have another shot at going on a blood-spilling spree if all things fall into place. This is not mere speculation, as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors director Chuck Russell discussed the idea of Jim Carrey, his star from The Mask, playing the iconic villain. While Russell acknowledged that no one other than Englund could play Krueger, he said that Carrey, a left-field option, is capable of portraying any role "he put his heart into it".

Russell said that it would take "another leap" for Carrey to play the role and take the franchise forward. "I think Jim would only consider it, and I’d only consider harnessing Jim, if there was a bold new direction for Elm Street," the filmmaker said.

Englund attributed his decision to back away from the role to arthritis as well as a bad back and bad neck. At the time, Englund regarded Kevin Bacon as a possible option for playing Krueger, describing him as "a fine physical actor" who "respects the genre."