PRODUCER · BORN 1939
Robert Shaye
- Born
- 3 March 1939, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Known for
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
17 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Robert Shaye (born 3 March 1939) is a producer best known for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
17 Interesting Facts About Robert Shaye
Interesting Facts (3)
- #001
Robert Shaye was the only person who believed in the script for 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'; every major studio in Hollywood had rejected the project. Wes Craven was initially reluctant to let Shaye make the film, citing New Line's small size at the time. Shaye nevertheless managed to acquire the rights to the script and then spent a full year seeking financing.
- #002
Robert Shaye was the founder of New Line Cinema, one of the key names in independent cinema, and served as its CEO for many years. Under his leadership, New Line carved out a distinctive place in the industry by giving chances to projects the major studios overlooked. Shaye's vision took the company beyond being merely a distributor and made it stand out as a producer as well, contributing to the development of independent cinema.
- #003
Robert Shaye served as Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of New Line Cinema alongside Michael Lynne. Together the pair ran the company and ranked among the most important producers of independent cinema. The partnership of Shaye and Lynne enabled New Line to undertake big-budget projects such as 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy while also continuing its support for independent films.
Production Story (10)
- #004
Robert Shaye wanted Freddy Krueger to drive the car in the final scene of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'; in his view, this was an element that would keep the possibility of a sequel alive. Wes Craven strongly opposed the idea and refused to have Krueger behind the wheel. In the end the two reached a compromise, producing the scene we see in the film: as the car's roof closes, Krueger's red and green colors appear.
- #005
About two weeks before shooting was to begin on 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', Smart Egg Pictures, which was financing the film, suddenly withdrew its investment and redirected the money to another project. Robert Shaye had to tell his team that they did not have enough money to start the film. In the end he struck a deal with Smart Egg: if the film went over budget, Shaye would forfeit all rights to the film. With no other choice, he accepted this risky agreement, and fortunately the film was completed within the planned budget, so the rights remained with Shaye.
- #006
Robert Shaye was the only person who believed in the script for 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'; every major studio in Hollywood had rejected the project. Wes Craven was initially cool on Shaye making the film, citing New Line's small size at the time. But Shaye managed to acquire the rights to the script and then spent a full year seeking financing. This process is recounted in detail in the book 'Never Sleep Again' and reveals how Shaye's vision made possible one of the turning points of horror cinema.
- #007
Robert Shaye was the founder of New Line Cinema, one of the key names in independent cinema, and served as its CEO for many years. Under his leadership, New Line carved out a distinctive place in the industry by giving chances to projects the major studios had overlooked. Shaye's vision took the company beyond being merely a distributor and made it stand out with its producer identity as well, contributing to the development of independent cinema.
- #008
For the final scene of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', Robert Shaye wanted Freddy Krueger to drive the car; in his view, this was an element that would keep the possibility of a sequel alive. Wes Craven, however, vehemently opposed the idea and refused to have Krueger behind the wheel. In the end the two men reached a compromise, and the scene we see in the film emerged: as the car's roof closes, Krueger's red and green colors appear.
- #009
On February 28, 2008, Robert Shaye resigned from his post as Co-Chairman and CEO of New Line Cinema. The resignation came after parent company Time Warner decided to merge New Line with Warner Bros. Pictures. Shaye could not accept the dissolution of New Line, known for its independent identity, under the roof of a major studio, and he left the company in protest at the merger.
- #010
Robert Shaye began his film career at a young age, making award-winning short films. When he was just 15, he shared the $1,000 first prize with Martin Scorsese in the Society of Cinematologists' prestigious Rosenthal competition, in the category of best films by American directors under 25.
- #011
Robert Shaye served as Co-Chairman and Co-CEO of New Line Cinema alongside Michael Lynne. Together the pair ran the company and ranked among the most important producers of independent cinema. The partnership of Shaye and Lynne enabled New Line to undertake big-budget projects such as 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy while also maintaining its support for independent films.
- #012
About two weeks before shooting was to begin on 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', Smart Egg Pictures, which was financing the film, suddenly withdrew its investment and redirected the money to another project. Robert Shaye had to tell his team that they did not have enough money to start the film. In the end he struck a deal with Smart Egg: if the film went over budget, Shaye would forfeit all rights to the film. With no other option, he accepted this risky agreement, and fortunately the film was completed within the planned budget, so the rights remained with Shaye.
- #013
Under Robert Shaye's leadership, New Line Cinema scored major successes with films such as 'Night of the Living Dead' (1968) and 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974). Shaye's belief in these films helped the company become a major player in genre cinema in the years that followed.
Career & Awards (2)
- #014
On February 28, 2008, Robert Shaye resigned from his position as Co-Chairman and CEO of New Line Cinema. The resignation came after the parent company, Time Warner, decided to merge New Line with Warner Bros. Pictures. Shaye could not accept New Line, known for its independent identity, being absorbed under the roof of a major studio, and he left the company in reaction to the merger.
- #015
Robert Shaye began his film career at a young age by making award-winning short films. At just 15, he shared the $1,000 first prize with Martin Scorsese in the Society of Cinematologists' prestigious Rosenthal competition, in the category for the best films by American directors under 25.
Life & Family (2)
- #016
Robert Shaye is the older brother of actor Lin Shaye, who has also left her mark on the film world. Lin Shaye is known especially for her roles in cult horror productions, and the paths of the two siblings have crossed from time to time. Robert's identity as a producer had an indirect influence on Lin's career as well, and their family ties stand as an example of solidarity within the industry.
- #017
Under Robert Shaye's leadership, New Line Cinema achieved great success with films such as 'Night of the Dead' (1968) and 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' (1974). Shaye's belief in these films helped the company become a major player in genre cinema in the years that followed.
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work