In a special 40th-anniversary episode of the Nightmare on Film Street podcast, Heather Langenkamp, who famously portrayed Nancy Thompson in the iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), reveals her eagerness to return to the nightmare-scape of her legendary role.
Langenkamp reminisced about the profound connections formed on set, especially with the late Wes Craven, the mastermind behind the series. She shared a nostalgic reflection on her character’s evolution through the films:
“We get to see and follow her in a really natural way, through being a teenager here and then being a young adult in Nightmare on Elm Street Part Three [1987], and then being a woman and a mother. And it’s very rare to have a character who can span that many different experiences, not only for just a woman, but for a person going through so much experience.”
In a touching nod to her relationship with Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund, she notes, “Wes always told me that he just really believed that Nancy and Freddy were like a unit, like two sides of a different coin. And he always liked us together, you know, that’s why he wrote those scripts, to have us always battling each other.”
When asked about the possibility of revisiting her role, Langenkamp’s response was electric: “God, yes. I mean, of course. She’s a great character. How could you say no?” She continued, indicating that the potential for new narratives remains vast: “I just need somebody to get that off the ground. Especially considering Nightmare on Elm Street Part Seven, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994). I do think there’s a lot of really great opportunities for new and excellent battles still to come.”
“I do think there’s a lot of really great opportunities for new and excellent battles still to come.”
Fans will no doubt be thrilled by the prospect of Langenkamp reprising her role as Nancy, potentially offering a fresh dimension to the enduring saga. “In my imagination, I have several legacy sequels happening at the same time,” Langenkamp mused. It’s clear that her connection to Nancy—and to the Nightmare universe—remains as vibrant as ever.
This revelation could mean sleepless nights of excitement for fans, eager for the return of the queen of Elm Street. Could this be the spark that reignites Freddy’s furnace? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for certain: Heather Langenkamp is ready to dream again.
Listen to the full Nightmare on Film Street interview with Heather Langenkamp here!
