Jackie Earle Haley’s recently resuscitated career is a textbook example of how true the banal platitude “the nomination is the reward” can sometimes be. Prior to 2006, the former child star hadn’t made a film for 13 years; one devastating performance (in Todd Field’s undervalued “Little Children”), a smattering of critics’ awards and a richly deserved Oscar nomination later, he’s a steadily working character actor with a reasonably high-profile slate of projects to his name.
Sure, “Watchmen” may not have panned out all that well, but it was a pretty amazing get for a 47 year-old non-star — and his performance is deemed by many to be the embattled film’s brightest spot. And getting to work with Scorsese in “Shutter Island” is none too shabby either, I would imagine. So when people say that awards are inconsequential, I’m sure the likes of Haley might beg to differ.
So it was with mixed feelings that I read the news that Haley is taking on the role of Freddy Krueger in New Line’s upcoming reboot of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise. On the one hand, it’s nice for the thesp to get to be the centrepiece of a project for a change, and a potentially profitable one at that; on the other, surely yet another remake of an iconic horror title is good news for precisely no one else. When will this particularly lazy trend run out of steam?
I understand that an actor of Haley’s age, appearance and profile probably doesn’t have a wealth of tempting projects to choose from, but it’s a little grim that a gifted actor has to resort to this. Here’s hoping there are more Fields and Scorseses in his future yet.
Comments
16 responses to “Take the money and run”
It will be interesting to see how this one performs. Obviously, a certain amount of traffic is inevitable but unlike the Halloween and Jason reboots, this franchise was directly tied to one actor as the villian and his face is what’s iconic.
He was indeed wonderful in ‘Little Children” managing to be both terrifying and heartbreaking at once — he also gave a quietly dangerous performance in ‘All the King’s Men” as Willy Stark’s bodyguard, next to nothing to say, but menacing in his very presence — something very few actors can do —
His performance in Watchmen almost single-handedly saved the film, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t have high hopes for this project, either, but maybe this remake will try to be the clever psychological thriller that the first film was and not try to go for cheap shocks like the sequels.
The Nightmare On Elm Street series has always been superior to the slasher garbage that is Holloween and Friday the 13th.
How can I be upset about a new nightmare movie? All these movies are franchises, the great killers of their respective years. Keep making remakes of the slasher movies cause they tend to be fun. Friday the 13, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween(if someone other then Rob Zombie took over. But please stay away from movies like the birds and the poltrgeist, those are classics, not franchises, dont remakes them.
The original is a great horror film. It gets us where we think we are the safest- our dreams. And freddy in the first one has very little dialogue, making him absolutely terrifying. JEH will be great as freddy
You’re totally over-thinking this. His casting doesn’t represent any sort of banality. It just provides another example of the resuscitation of his career.
Your frustration is entirely misplaced. Haley is just trying to make a living!
I really think that this, as he does in watchmen, will be a defining moment. the problem will be if he get stuck on this kind of roles.
Haley has always been great, in films like BAD NEWS BEARS, DAY OF THE LOCUST, LOSIN’ IT, and BREAKING AWAY. LITTLE CHILDREN was a wonderful topping on it all. I’m really happy for him and want to see him in a variety of projects. But the answer to when the horror remake trend will end? Never. I predict, ten years from now, we’ll be seeing remakes of SCREAM and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER. That’s REALLY how bad it’s going to get. Mark my words: you heard it here first.
I agree with Adam M. Yes, Haley is an Oscar-caliber actor, but getting a lead role in a franchise film is a big opportunity for a character actor. It can only raise his profile. I don’t think it will prevent him from making prestige films and working with great directors in the future. I just hope he will continue to get more starring roles.
Come on guys — how many major roles was Robert Englund offered after doing Freddy? Sure he had a great payday, but Haley is a real actor and would prefer better roles I like to think — this will lead to nothing but his name being crossed off lists for casting because of his attachment to the films.
Well, it is possible that Haley is taking a the role to add another dimension to Freddy Krueger. In a lot ways it’s a complex character.
Also, money. Money to pay off the meaty roles.
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While I agree with a lot of what your saying Haley is not a very rich guy, so if I were him I would have signed on as Freddy if asked. The role could secure his retirement with a few sequels.
chuck
this is great news b/c a remake/reboot of Nightmare on Elm Street was inevitable and with this news at least I know I have a reason to see it in theatres. JEH is one of my favorite actors working and I will see mostly anything he is in. I seriously doubt this movie is going to have any negative effect on his career unless he is really bad in the movie but I feel like that is doubtful. This is really awesome news, I can’t wait until next April!
How about looking at this from the opposite side.
As frustrating as it is to know they’re remaking “Nightmare on Elm Street”, how great is it that they actually cast someone who seems like a good fit for the character.