Set Visit Preview: A Nightmare on Elm Street

Rusted tools sit atop an aging workbench, glimmering in the light of an eerie green backdrop. Makeshift gloves, with metal blades attached to the fingers, can be seen nailed to the nearby wall, while wet concrete and boiler pipes surround the area and give way into darkness.

Movie audiences would instantly recognize this setting from a horror film, and they’d be right! The Nightmare on Elm Street Companion was on the set of Platinum Dunes’ upcoming reboot of the horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street.

A Nightmare on Elm Street, originally released by New Line Cinema in 1984, introduced audiences to horror fiend Freddy Krueger, the dream demon who stalked and killed teens in their nightmares. New Line Cinema, now under the Warner Bros. umbrella, announced in 2008 that they partnered with production company Platinum Dunes to give audiences a fresh look at the terrifying world of Nightmare.

Reboot territory is certainty not new to Platinum Dunes—the production team of Brad Fuller, Andrew Form, and Michael Bay—who are known for their successful horror remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror, and most recently, Friday the 13th. For this film, experienced music video director Samuel Bayer (David Bowie, Nirvana, Green Day) was brought in to head the picture, working from a script written by Wesley Strick (Cape Fear, Doom). Academy Award-Nominee Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, Little Children) will star as Freddy Krueger, along with relative newcomers Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary) as Nancy Thompson and Kyle Gallner (Smallville) as Quentin.

“To us, it’s one of the best concepts for a horror film,” commented Fuller on what attracted Platinum Dunes to the project. “You fall asleep, you die. All you have to do is stay awake [to survive]. We find ourselves attracted to a very charismatic antagonist, charismatic either in their weaponry or their personality. I feel like Freddy is the jewel in the horror crown.”

The Nightmare on Elm Street Companion, along with a group of select press, was invited to tour Nightmare’s Chicago set on June 25th. We witnessed scenes being filmed, met with the cast and crew, and most importantly, got to see the new Freddy Krueger in (bloody) action.

“It’s such an incredible opportunity,” said star Jackie Earle Haley about reinventing the Freddy Krueger character. “To get to do this kind of genre film is neat.”

Look for a detailed set visit report in the coming months, including interviews with Nightmare’s stars, producers, and director.

Also, be sure to check out what Platinum Dunes has in store for Nightmare fans at San Diego Comic-Con 2009, during Warner Bros.’ upcoming films showcase on Friday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m.

A Nightmare on Elm Street debuts April 30, 2010.