Our first look at the new Toxic Avenger—a remake of the 1984 cult film—comes in the form of a kitschy news report, which feels entirely appropriate. “The freaky folk hero” remains at large, says one reporter in this mashup of pretend-news-coverage, in which interviewees say all kinds of wacky stuff about the guy who’s out there doing some vigilante justice. “He looks like a fucked-up hot dog!” says one voice. One impression is a potato with a scrawled-on face.
You never actually see the face of said Avenger in this short peek—just Peter Dinklage looming in a doorway. But you certainly get the gist.
The original Toxic Avenger was directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman, who also wrote the story for the movie. Herz and Kaufman are both producers on this new version, which is written and directed by Macon Blair (I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore).
All we get for a synopsis is this: “A horrible toxic accident transforms downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze into a new evolution of hero: THE TOXIC AVENGER!” But do you really need much more? The concept is kinda right there in the title.
Blair’s Avenger co-stars Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, and Kevin Bacon (making it one step removed from the prestige adaptation Leave the World Behind, which also has a new trailer and which also stars Kevin Bacon).
The Toxic Avenger has been screening at various festivals, but no release date has been announced.
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A Season of Monstrous Conceptions
