Summary
The Toxic Avenger’s wide release gets an uncertain update from star Peter Dinklage. Directed by Macon Blair, the upcoming film follows janitor Winston Gooze (Dinklage), who becomes the eponymous hero after inadvertently being exposed to a harmful substance. Along with Dinklage,the cast ofThe Toxic Avengerincludes Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Julia Davis, Elijah Wood, Kevin Bacon, and more. A reboot of the 1984 original, which spawned a loyal fanbase,The Toxic Avengerhad its film festival premiere in 2023, but has not been made available to general moviegoers yet.
In a recent interview withComicBook.com, Dinklage revealed uncertainty aboutThe Toxic Avenger’s wide release. However, after noting the movie’s success at Fantastic Fest, he went on to praise Blair and expressed a desire for viewers to actually be able to watch it. Read more of Dinklage’s comments below:
No, I’m not a producer on it. I don’t know. 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.
What The Release Update Means For The Toxic Avenger
Could The Reboot Still Hit Theaters?
While not uncommon for movies that debut at festivals to have delayed wide releases,it is strange thatThe Toxic Avengerdoes not have a potential date, and that even Dinklage is uncertain, despite its teaser trailer releasing nearly a year ago. Other films,includingPet Sematary: BloodlinesandTotally Killer, that premiered at the 2023 Fantastic Fest were put on streaming services soon thereafter. Based on the success of the originalToxic Avengerthough, and the popularity of horror comedies, the reboot could still perform well in theaters, especially with a recognizable cast.
The movie garnered positive reactions out of the festival, as Dinklage mentioned, andcurrently holds a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.That, along withThe Toxic Avenger’s R-ratingand some glimpses of gory sequences, will likely benefit the film, should it eye a theatrical release. There are many memorable moments the reboot can replicate, including the character’s transformation, but it will also feature new story elements and potential altercations for Dinklage’s Winston Gooze to handle.
For comparison, the originalThe Toxic Avengerhas a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Although the latest release update spells hesitation, Dinklage’s eagerness for audiences to seeThe Toxic Avengeris encouraging. It will be interesting to find out what the wide release looks like for this movie, and if it ends up in theaters. Fans of the 1984 original and/or the new cast will still have a lot to look forward to whenThe Toxic Avengerdoes eventually reach them.
The Toxic Avenger
Cast
The Toxic Avenger is a film directed by Michael Herz, featuring Melvin, a janitor at a local health club. After a cruel prank by local thugs goes awry, he is transformed into the Toxic Avenger when he falls into a vat of toxic waste, altering his life dramatically.
