Deadline reports that filming is now complete on a documentary that’s entirely dedicated to the life and career of iconic actor Robert Englund – as you can tell from the title, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. As genre fans know,
Englund shot to fame portraying one of Hollywood’s most iconic horror characters: Freddy Krueger. A classically trained actor and feature director, Englund’s early credits included cult surfing movie Big Wednesday. His career was cemented by his portrayal of supernatural serial killer Krueger in Wes Craven’s fertile Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. More recently the veteran actor scored a key role in the upcoming fourth season of Netflix hit Stranger Things.
Director Gary Smart spent two years assembling interviews for this documentary, talking to the likes of Lance Henriksen, Eli Roth, Tony Todd, Bill Moseley, Lin Shaye, Heather Langenkamp, Englund’s wife Nancy Booth, and of course Englund himself.
Smart wrote Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story with Neil Morris and also produced the documentary alongside Christopher Griffiths, John Campopiano, Adam Evans, Michael Perez, and Hank Starrs. Laurence Gornall served as executive producer. The film is a Cult Screenings UK Ltd Production, in association with Unannounced Films.
Smart provided the following statement:
This unique and intimate portrait captures the man behind the glove and gives us a wonderful insight into the world of a classic Hollywood Icon. We are both honored and privileged to have the full support and participation of Robert (Englund) in the making of this documentary. He is absolutely delighted with our tribute to his long and varied career.”
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story is in post-production, with the aim being to get it into festivals later this year.
Englund definitely deserves to have an extensive documentary made about his accomplishments, so I’m glad to hear we’re getting Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story.