A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending: "Pretty much everyone agreed it was false advertising"

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A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending: "Pretty much everyone agreed it was false advertising" News By Megan Garside published 9 January 2026

The dream demons almost took over a new victim

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Over 20 years later, the director behind the sixth installment of A Nightmare on Elm Street has revealed that Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare actually had an alternate ending that was filmed.

"I don't know how well known it is that there's an additional ending, a coda, to Freddy's Dead. Something we filmed, and it seems like no one has the footage at all. I know we shot it, and I even had an edit, but it's gone MIA," said director Rachel Talalay over on her YouTube channel, How I Filmed This.

The version of Freddy's Dead released on screen ended with final girl Maggie tearing off Freddy's clawed glove and stabbing him with it. Then, Maggie proceeds to throw a pipe bomb into Freddy's chest, forcing the three dream demons to fly out of Freddy as the bomb kills him. However, in the never-before-seen ending, the dream demons leave Freddy's body and go on to find a new host to turn into a supernatural killer.

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The lost ending was actually filmed, and Talalay has the receipts to prove it. "What I did find in my archives was proof that we did film the ending per the script," said the director. In the still below, you can see the script where the demons approach a young boy who was no doubt meant to be the new Freddy Krueger. "This coda basically had the demons from Freddy going into another boy’s body. The cycle perpetuates."

(Image credit: Rachel Talalay - How I Filmed This)

Talalay says the sequence was cut out of the film "almost immediately," before screen testing. "It was pretty much agreed universally that you can't call the film Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare and have a coda like that... Pretty much everyone agreed it was false advertising."

The alternate ending would have completely changed the franchise as we know it, introducing a new horror figure to Elm Street. The 1991 movie was actually supposed to be the last film in the franchise, and was supposed to kill off Freddy Krueger for good. That is until he was resurrected in Wes Craven's New Nightmare in 1994, followed by the 2003 mash-up Freddy vs. Jason, and the 2010 Nightmare on Elm Street remake.

For more, check out our list of the best horror movies, and keep up with upcoming horror movies heading your way.

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Megan GarsideSocial Links NavigationJunior Social Media Editor, GamesRadar+

I'm the Junior Social Media Editor here at GamesRadar+, handling all of Total Film's social platforms. However, I also write, covering all things film and TV for the site's entertainment section. I joined GamesRadar+ in 2023 and have been here ever since. I previously worked in communications after graduating with an MA in journalism. In my spare time, you can find me binging horror movies or getting lost in a cosy little game on my Switch.

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Logout Read more 2010's A Nightmare on Elm Street was "premature", says OG actor Robert Englund – but he'd be eager to see a re-do of Part 2 and a franchise-ending prequel soon    Five Nights at Freddy's 2 ending explained: Who dies, what happens to the Marionette, and how does it set up another sequel?    Original Freddy Krueger star Robert Englund wants Freddy vs. Jason director to come out of retirement and make another horror movie    A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 director says Robert Englund is the "only" Freddy Krueger for him, but thinks Jim Carrey could pull off the iconic horror villain    Is there a Five Nights at Freddy's 2 post credits scene?    There's a terrifying face lurking in new Five Nights at Freddy's 2 behind-the-scenes photos, and everyone has a different fan theory: "That's just the puppet's true form"    Latest in Horror Movies A24's new horror movie just dropped a spine-chilling first trailer, and now I never want to listen to a podcast again    Upcoming chimp-themed horror movie Primate debuts to positive first reactions, comparing it to Stephen King's Cujo    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director teases the sequel's most "horrifying" scene involving Jack O'Connell's villain    Creepy first trailer for Deadpool and Wolverine star's new horror movie looks like a mix of Death Note and Talk to Me    Deadpool star's new horror action movie trailer looks like a cross between Die Hard and Rosemary's Baby    Guillermo del Toro says James Cameron convinced him to cut 7 minutes of Frankenstein    Latest in News A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel director shares game-changing never-before-seen stills from "lost" alternate ending    Final Fantasy 7 Remake lead feels "the passing of the ages" with new Square Enix devs calling FF13 their favorite, not 6    Stranger Things' final battle was going to feature Demos, but Ross Duffer was worried fans were "fatigued" by them    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director has thrown in her pitch for Sony's Clue remake    The Division 3 is "shaping up to be a monster" and Ubisoft Massive hopes it'll be as big as the first looter shooter    Marvel's Agatha star Kathryn Hahn is reportedly in talks to play Mother Gothel in Disney's live-action Tangled remake    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

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