There's a new Freddy Krueger

They are doing a reboot on the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.A new twist on the storied film franchise means a new actor to play the legendary Freddy Krueger.

Jackie Earle Haley, who recently played Rorschach in Watchmen, will now be wearing the razor glove and trademark red and green jacket.

The film's direct, Samuel Bayer, says of Haley, "Looking at his performance in Watchmen, here's a guy playing a character under a mask yet you feel tremendous empathy for him. And in Nightmare he is going to be under prosthetic make-up. You have to feel something for the character. The greatest villains are multi-dimensional and I think he will bring that to the character."

So, does Bayer think Hayley risks being typecast because of the role?

Bayer says, "It's what you bring to the material. He's a well-rounded actor who will not be stereotyped by this. If anything, he'll be celebrated for it."

Filming is set to begin on May 5th in Chicago.