THE TOXIC AVENGER Remake Is Headed to Theaters This Year!
Cineverse has announced that the reimagining of Troma Entertainment’s 1984 cult classic of The Toxic Avenger, is finally going to hit theaters this year, in 2025.
The film has had a long road to getting a release as it was previously reported that the movie is unreleasable. It was explained that the film’s commercial prospects are too "out there" for any sort of traditional theatrical release.
The movie was directed by Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore), and it stars Peter Dinklage as Toxie.
The director shared in a statement: “I’m beyond grateful to the team behind The Toxic Avenger who were so supportive and steady-handed as we searched for the perfect distribution partner for our film.
“It’s so cool that folks will have the chance to see this in theaters, it’s a fun rowdy movie you wanna see with a crowd. Mutant hero smashes bad guys with a mop: perfect entertainment for the whole family!
“Our goal was always to preserve the heart and spirit of the original Toxie (which was seared into my brain at a very young age) and try to make something that Troma fans would dig and at the same time do something with the character that feels fresh.
“Lloyd and Michael at Troma have been a blast to work with, absolutely everyone at Legendary are stars, and I can’t wait to start working with the champs at Cinverse to bring this version of Toxie to fans new and old.”
The movie is described as a “brand new reimagining of Lloyd Kaufman’s classic The Toxic Avenger,” and it’s explained that “While the original film (which premiered in 1984 – almost 40 years ago!) followed the fate of Melvin Ferd Junko III (Mitch Cohen), who goes from zero to toxic hero in a case of bullying gone awry, Macon Blair’s contemporary take follows a hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength all his own.”
Dinklage stars as “downtrodden janitor Winston Gooze who, after falling into a vat of toxic waste, becomes none other than The Toxic Avenger. This timely reimagining is up to its eyeballs in environmental themes as Winston goes up against the evil forces of greed and corruption to save his son, his friends, and his community.”
The synopsis also notes, “Even as this story exists on its own terms, the spirit undoubtedly remains connected to the original. Troma fans old and new will be pleased to know that the film has been rated “R” for violence and gore – as per Troma tradition.”
Dinklage previously talked about movie saying: “I do want it to get out there into the world because it was a really big hit at Fantastic Fest in Austin, and Macon Blair, the writer/director who is also in The Thicket ... He's incredible. He's one of my favorite people and favorite artists. So hopefully it will have its day in the toxic sun."
When previously teasing the violence in the movie, the director said it would include “Itchy & Scratchy-type violence,” which is obviously in reference to The Simpsons’ heightened cat-vs-mouse comedy sketches.
He explained: “We’ve got a guy that gets his head stuffed in a car engine and it kind of grinds his head up. That was a gag I was fond of.”
While making the film, the filmmaker explained he thought that the studio wouldn’t go along with his ideas: “I kept expecting Legendary to say, ‘This is not what we want,’ but they kept agreeing to the things I pitched.”
Blair adds that when making the movie, he “embraced the silliness and trashiness, while wanting it to be an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing, rock’n’roll fun time.”
The movie also stars Elijah Wood, Julia Davis, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon, and Jacob Tremblay. It’s great to hear that the movie is getting released, and I can’t wait to see it!
You can watch the teaser trailer for the film here.