When you hear Robert Englund's name, chances are one of the world's most famous horror icons instantly comes to mind: Freddy Krueger.
The actor has played the terrifying antagonist in eight Nightmare on Elm Street movies and even a TV show, cementing himself as one of the genre's all-time greats. Now, a new documentary titled Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story arrives on June 6 to pull back the curtain on the actor behind the villain.
According to Variety, his story includes a pivotal brush with Star Wars!
Attempting to make his mark in Hollywood during the 1970s, the trade explains that Englund auditioned for the role of Han Solo in George Lucas' Star Wars. The role obviously went to Harrison Ford when all was said and done, but the actor reportedly urged his roommate to go ahead and read for the role of Luke Skywalker.
That roommate? Mark Hamill.
We're hoping these events are explained in greater detail in the documentary itself, but it's fun to learn how Englund's own experience with Star Wars may have ultimately led to Hamill putting himself on the map as one of the most beloved sci-fi icons of all time.
Reflecting on his own career, the Nightmare on Elm Street star is suitably humble. "I know who icons are," he says. "I’m not an icon. Maybe Freddy Krueger is, but I’m not. I’m just a character actor, a utility actor who’s been very lucky."
Over the years, we've learned of many actors who were nearly cast in Star Wars. Among them are the likes of Al Pacino, Burt Reynolds, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, and Jodie Foster, but those ultimately cast definitely made the characters their own.
We'd say things still worked out well for Englund and, when he was asked about who he'd like to pass the Freddy Krueger baton to, he suggested The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special star Kevin Bacon!
It'll be hard to top the original, though...