Macon Blair to write and direct The Toxic Avenger reboot for Legendary

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Late last year, Legendary Entertainment acquired the rights to THE TOXIC AVENGERS, the low-budget comedy splatter film from Troma Entertainment which quickly became a cult classic and spawned several sequels (THE TOXIC AVENGER PART II, THE TOXIC AVENGER PART III: THE LAST TEMPTATION OF TOXIE, and CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER IV), an animated TV series, a musical, and a video-game. Now, Variety reports that that Macon Blair has signed on to write and direct the upcoming TOXIC AVENGER reboot

After appearing in front of the camera for roles in BLUE RUIN and GREEN ROOM, Macon Blair stepped behind-the-scenes to write and direct I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE. He also penned the screenplay for Jeremy Saulnier's HOLD THE DARK. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited by this choice. Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, who directed the original 1984 movie and are the founders of Troma, are onboard to produce the reboot. THE TOXIC AVENGER told the story of Melvin Ferd, a stereotypical 98-lb nerd who fell into a vat of toxic waste after being tormented by bullies and was transformed into the Toxic Avenger, a hideously disfigured creature with superhuman size and strength who ruthlessly fights crime.

There have been several attempts at rebooting THE TOXIC AVENGER over the years. Nearly a decade ago it was announced that a remake of THE TOXIC AVENGER would be co-written and directed by Steve Pink (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE) with Arnold Schwarzenegger in talks to star. Unlike the Troma movies, the reboot would be a family-friendly PG-13 outing similar to the animated TV series. After languishing in development hell for several years, SAUSAGE PARTY director Conrad Vernon signed on to helm the film three years ago before the project fell apart and Legendary scooped up the rights.