Haley: 'Portraying Freddy was challenge'

Jackie Earle Haley has said that his reimagined version of the iconic horror villain Freddy Kruger is more "serious" and "angry".

The Oscar-nominated actor has admitted that it was a challenge creating his own portrayal of the character that Robert Englund made famous.

Haley told Teen Hollywood: "The real challenge was just to get in there and somehow create a Freddy that was somewhat recognisable but that I could still own. So, I really just tried to own it and make the guy my own. It's probably a bit more serious, a bit more angry."

Haley also admitted that he rewatched the 1984 Wes Craven original for inspiration and insight.

He added: "Yeah. I looked at the first one because I remember seeing that one in the theater and I really dug it and the tone of it was darker than where it had gone [in sequels].

"I think it had gotten more campy and more of a comedy, which was great. I think people loved that, but I think [the filmmakers's] call on going back to re-envision this thing as a really dark, kind of serious piece was kind of a cool idea."

A Nightmare On Elm Street is currently playing in US cinemas and is released in the UK on May 7.