The Toxic Avenger is one of the pillars of ’80s horror and remains a splatter classic to this day. That’s why we were so excited when Macon Blair of all people signed on to write and direct a remake. Starring Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, and Kevin Bacon, we first heard about the movie all the way back in 2018. It opened the 2023 Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX, and subsequently played more genre festivals that year. We thought for sure it would release shortly thereafter. But that’s not always how things work. Luckily, according to Variety, The Toxic Avenger will see theaters this year.
Cineverse will distribute the movie some time in 2025 and Blair expressed gratitude to both them and his collaborators for their patience in this process. In an official statement, the director said:
“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 Cineverse to bring this version of Toxie to fans new and old.”
The original Toxic Avenger debuted in 1984 and put Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz, and Troma on the map with its blend of irreverent, often puerile humor and over-the-top splatter gore. Troma has produced three sequels for the title as well as, of all things, a short-lived early-’90s children’s cartoon.
The new film centers on Dinklage as Winston Gooze, a hopelessly unlucky janitor at a toxic waste facility who, though a series of unfortunate events gets doused in chemicals and transforms into a hideous, green mutant. “Armed with his signature mop, the unlikely hero battles freaks, gangsters, and corrupt CEOs while trying to save his relationship with his son. The story channels the subversive gonzo energy of the original Toxic Avenger while delivering a fresh, contemporary twist,” reads the official synopsis.
I for one am very excited for people to finally get to see this one on a grander scale. I got to see it at Beyond Fest in LA in 2023 and even talk to Macon Blair about it for Nerdist‘s Laser Focus podcast. It’s a very fun time, and just as delightfully gross as you’d hope. And funny, too.
Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Letterboxd.
