It’s been nearly a year sinceThe Toxic Avengerwas reborn, yet general audiences still haven’t had a chance to seePeter Dinklage’s iteration of the trashy Troma superhero. The reboot, written and directed byMacon Blair, earned a warm reception following its debut at Fantastic Fest last September with a strong 92% onRotten Tomatoesand plenty of positive reactions fromCollider’sPerri NemiroffandJohn AljetstoSuitable FleshdirectorJoe Lynch. Promising the feel of a Troma cult classic mixed with modern sensibilities, it appeared to have something for newcomers and veteran fans ofLloyd KaufmanandMichael Herz’s work. For anyone who’s been eagerly awaiting Toxie’s grand return, however, the wait might be a bit longer.
While speaking to Collider’sSteve Weintraubin a larger interview for his new Tubi Western,The Thicket, Dinklage revealed thathe’s just as clueless as most fans regarding its potential release, but they’ll soon have another chance to see him work with Blair again. “Oh my gosh, I know. I’m in the dark just like you, man,” he said. “My friend Macon Blair, the writer-director ofToxic Avengeralso plays Malachai inThe Thicket. I love working with that man, I would do every movie with him if I could. But fingers crossed, it’ll see cinemas soon.” There’s little recourse for fans in a situation like this, buttheGame of Thronesstarremains hopeful and joked that they could always “Write to your congressmen. I don’t know what you do in this situation.”
Released in 1984, the originalToxic Avengerfollowed Melvin Ferd Junko III (Mark Torgl), a meek and often-bullied nerd who transforms into the titular mutant hero (Mitch Cohen) after falling into a vat of toxic waste. Blair’s takeopts for a more emotional anglewiththe same R-rated trappings, instead casting Dinklage as the down-on-his-luck janitor Winston Gooze. Working at the Garb-X health club, Winston does his best to get by and help his young son Wade (Jacob Tremblay), though everything takes a turn for the worst when he’s diagnosed with a terminal illness. His greedy employers have no interest in helping him pay for the medication he needs and, when he tries to take matters into his own hands and steal from them, he, too, ends up taking a toxic bath. Now a superpowered mutant armed with his mop,he plans to clean up the citystarting with a power-hungry tyrant and his toxic empire.
‘The Toxic Avenger’ Unites a Starry Cast
Surrounding the Emmy-winning Dinklage and Tremblay is a similar strong supporting cast, includingover-the-top silly performances byElijah WoodandKevin Baconas villains. Blair has also offered heavy praise in the past forTaylour Paigewho broughtmuch-needed “grit and physicality"to her role as the rogue investigator J.J.Julia Davis,Sarah Niles, andJulian Kostovround out the bunch. Blair will also have a role in his film, once again getting the chance to co-star with Dinklage after a past turn onI Care a Lotwith him.
As Dinklage said, the pair will soon be seen on Tubi withThe Thicket, which is currently slated to hit theaters on September 6. The filmhas been a long-gestating passion project for himthat adapts theJoe R. Lansdalenovel of the same name withElliott Lesterdirecting andChris Kelleywriting. In addition to producing, Dinklagestars as the bounty hunter Reginald Joneswho joins a desperate young man named Jack (Levon Hawke) as he tries to save his sister (Esmé Creed-Miles) from the clutches of the infamous Cut Throat Bill (Juliette Lewis). To get to her, however, they have to brave the no-man’s land known only as The Thicketwith help from some allies. Joining them in the gritty Western thriller areLeslie Grace,Gbenga Akinnagbe,Andrew Schulz,David Midthunder,Arliss Howard, andMetallicafrontmanJames Hetfield.
Stay tuned here at Collider for more on Blair and Dinklage’sThe Toxic Avengerreboot as it comes out.
The Toxic Avenger
After a toxic accident, janitor Winston Gooze gains superhuman abilities and transforms into the Toxic Avenger. Armed with a glowing mop, he must save his son and thwart a tyrannical villain seeking to exploit toxic powers for personal gain. The film blends action and social commentary.
