Freddy Krueger Comes Home: Film Rights Return to Wes Craven’s Estate
It’s been nearly ten years since Freddy Krueger last graced our screens. Even though his last outing is not considered to be his best, Freddy’s noticeable absence is particularly strange if you take into account the return of other iconic characters such as Michael Myers and Pennywise. And, although it’s not yet certain when he’ll next appear, some interesting information has surfaced about the rights of his franchise.
The good news is that the rights for A Nightmare on Elm Street have been reverted back to Wes Craven’s estate, hopefully avoiding the awkward mess that the Friday the 13th rights have found themselves in. The reason for this adjustment is that after 35 years, a writer can reclaim their own work back, and this year is that anniversary for the horror classic.
However, it should be noted that it’s only the control of the rights in the US that Wes Craven’s estate has regained, with Warner Bros./New Line Cinema still retaining the rights internationally.
In the grand scheme of things, this may mean very little, but a little bit of hope for a new Nightmare on Elm Street is impossible to withhold.