Horror legendRobert Englundwill have his life story told inHollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. A Screambox Original film, the documentary will be heading to Screambox and Digital outlets on June 13, 2025. For now, you can get a sneak peek at the movie by watching the new trailer below.
The trailer showcases new interview footage with Englund along with some other big names from the horror genre. Eli Roth opens up the trailer speaking about the enduring legacy of Englund’s Freddy Krueger character, which he first began playing in Wes Craven’sA Nightmare on Elm Streetin 1984. Englund himself further comments on how it wasn’t exactly his childhood dream to become a horror genre superstar, but that’s just where his talents would take him, and he’d go on to fully embrace and make the most of it.
“I never set out to become a horror icon,” Englund says. “[It’s] something I wasn’t planning, it’s just something that happened.”
Other stars from theElm Streetfranchise, including original final girl Heather Langenkamp, also speak about what it was like to ride the wave of success that came with being involved with those films alongside Englund. Filmmaker andpodcaster Mick Garrisalso touches on how the character even appealed to younger audiences. The role helped make him an icon, clearly, but it came at a cost, as it’s noted in the trailer how horror genre stars are all too often subject to typecasting in Hollywood, regardless of his immense talent.
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Robert Englund’s Story Comes to Screambox
Gary Smart and Christopher Griffiths directedHollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story. It is written by Smart and Neil Morris. Along with new interviews with Englund and his wife, Nancy, others who are included in the doc are Lin Shaye, Eli Roth, Tony Todd, Heather Langenkamp, Mick Garris, and many more.
The documentary was filmed over the course of two years. It goes back to Englund’s early days inBuster and BillieandStay Hungrywith Arnold Schwarzenegger up to when he dominated pop culture in the 1980s as one of horror’s most popular stars. Also covered are his directorial debut film,976-EVIL, as well as his more recent work such as a guest role in the fourth season ofStranger Things.
Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Storywill becoming to Screamboxand Digital on July 07, 2025.
