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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
At long last, we get an update on the remake of Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger. According to a recent announcement by Bloody Disgusting, the upcoming film, now written and directed by Macon Blair (Green Room, I Don’t Feel At Home in This World Anymore, The Florida Project, Reservation Dogs), has officially been rated R for “[s]trong violence and gore, language throughout, sexual references, and brief graphic nudity”.
As of now, the remake does not have a release date, Elijah Wood, Julia Davis, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon are currently cast in lead roles in the project. Peter Dinklage is set to portray the title character, Winston/ The Toxic Avenger, while Jacob Tremblay plays Winston’s son. Legendary Pictures and Troma Entertainment will produce the upcoming film.
An exclusive June 2021 news report from Deadline also describes The Toxic Avenger remake as follows:
A contemporary reimagining of Troma Entertainment’s successful 1984 low-budget action-comedy hit, The Toxic Avenger is steeped in environmental themes and subverts the superhero genre in the vein of Deadpool. When a struggling everyman is pushed into a vat of toxic waste, he is transformed into a mutant freak who must go from shunned outcast to underdog hero as he races to save his son, his friends, and his community from the forces of corruption and greed.
Justin Kroll via Deadline
Background on The Toxic Avenger (1984)
The Toxic Avenger is somewhat of a cult classic B-movie. It miraculously spawned a franchise that consisted of three sequels, (The Toxic Avenger Part II, The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV), as well as a children’s television spin-off series, Toxic Crusaders, amongst other things.
I first watched the first film as an eight-year-old, and I was traumatized by the tire scene for a little while. You can watch the trailer for the original film here:
Legendary and Troma
Legendary Pictures is responsible for many Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures films since 2005. The list of their works includes Batman Begins, The Ant Bully, 300, The Dark Knight, Watchmen, The Hangover, The Town, As Above So Below, Jurassic World, Straight Outta Compton, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, BlacKkKlansman, Detective Pikachu, Godzilla vs. Kong, and Dune; as well as Enola Holmes.
Troma Entertainment is an independent film production and production company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974. Their company has produced a list of low-budget indie films — mostly in the horror-comedy genre. This includes Kaufman’s indie romantic black comedy, Tromeo & Juliet, written by Kaufman and James Gunn.
Have you seen the original Toxic Avenger film? If so, then what are your thoughts on it? Let us know! For more comedy-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Source: Bloody Disgusting
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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