The Toxic Avenger Reboot Canceled From Distribution?
Similar to the old “If a tree falls in a forest” adage, if somebody makes a reboot of a cult-classic film and packs it with an assortment of marketable Hollywood names, but it never gets released, is it still a movie? After over a decade of speculation, The Toxic Avenger reboot made its gore-filled debut at Fantastic Fest in September 2023, but a year later, the film has been stuck in distribution purgatory, causing rumors of its permanent cancellation to swirl. Has Macon Blair’s passion project been thrown into the trash, or will viewers finally be able to watch what some Hollywood insiders consider “unreleasable?”
A Strong Film Fest Debut
The Toxic Avenger garnered a respectable amount of decent praise following its debut at Fantastic Fest, with critics calling the film “silly” yet “self-aware” while noting how Blair excelled at “bringing new life into the franchise.” While the film didn’t quite get the overwhelming positive reviews it had hoped for, the film had an even bigger problem that would eventually lead to the film’s current predicament. There isn’t a large enough audience for the film.
The Struggle To Find An Audience
According to World of Reel, one of the producers of The Toxic Avenger felt that the film was doomed to a future without a wide release. “It’s too niche. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see it on Tubi a few years from now,” the producer admitted. But without a clear audience to market to, it is unknown just how long fans will have to wait to see the reboot of the cult classic.
Peter Dinklage Gets To Be A Superhero
Blair’s The Toxic Avenger follows the story of Winston Gooze (Peter Dinklage), a meek and powerless janitor who is down on his luck, especially after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Desperate and out of options to pay for his life-saving yet very expensive treatment, Gooze pleads with his greedy and power-hungry bosses at Garb-X, a health club run by Bob (Kevin Bacon) and Fitz Garbinger (Elijah Wood). After his heartfelt plea is rejected, Gooze attempts one last-ditch effort to collect enough money to afford the treatment… he tries to rob Garb-X.
But Gooze’s plan goes horribly awry when he falls into a tub of toxic waste, which transforms the lowly janitor into a deformed and powerful creature with superhuman strength. After surviving the incident, Gooze takes on the persona of the Toxic Avenger, a mutant that vows to take on the evil people of the world and protect the innocent and exploited, all while taking revenge on the people who wronged him in his past life.
The Long Struggle To Make The Film
In April 2010, a more mainstream remake of The Toxic Avenger was announced, with the team behind Hot Tub Time Machine brought on board in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. However, over the course of the next nine years, the remake was trapped in a development tango, with several major changes to the production team occurring, including Guillermo del Toro being rumored to act as executive producer at one point. It wasn’t until 2019 that Blair was announced to write and direct the film that The Toxic Avenger finally began to take shape, but this time as a reboot instead of a true remake.
The Involvement Of The Original Creator
Working alongside The Toxic Avenger (1984) original producers Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Blair developed his script by paying special attention to Troma Entertainment’s unique style. “Macon Blair knows Troma better than I do,” Kaufman admitted. “He’s seen everything. He’s seen the cartoon [Toxic Crusaders], he’s seen the Halloween special, he’s seen everything. And he loves our movies… I’ve read the script and it’s better than the original and I leave it to him.”
Source: World of Reel
