THE TOXIC AVENGER: Legendary Acquires Feature Film Rights For Troma’s Cult Classic
Are you ready for more of The Toxic Avenger? Then look no further than Legendary Entertainment as they’ve just acquired the feature film rights for the cult-classic franchise that once flew the flag for low-budget indie horror banner, Troma.
Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz directed the original 1984 film set in Tromaville, New Jersey, and follows Melvin, a mild-mannered nerd who is consistently bullied and picked on until he falls into a fat of toxic waste. He soon turns into the repulsive-yet-lovable mutant hero, Toxie, who stands up to bullies and corruption with irreverent zeal – doing good and brutally mauling evil in no-holds-barred fashion.
Opening to a tame reception in 1984, the film eventually became a cult success a year after its release, preceding several sequels in 1989 and 2000. The Toxic Avenger also expanded into a stage musical production, a children’s cartoon TV series, and a Marvel Comic. Attempts to remake the movie followed in 2010 but fell short as it changed hands between directors, and even at one point with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s name in the mix.
Kaufman and Herz of Troma Entertainment will serve as producers for the new movie centered around the iconic stereotype-defying superhero, and with Alex Garcia and Jay Ashenfelter overseeing for Legendary.
Now celebrating 44 years of filmmaking, Troma Entertainment, Inc. hails as the longest running independent movie studio in North America. In addition to commercial success, Troma enjoys a wealth of critical appreciation, exemplified by Troma retrospectives sponsored by the American Cinematheque, Cinematheque Francais, the British Film Institute, the American Film Institute and many others.
After creating a new kind of sexy comedy in the 70s and putting a new face on the movie superhuman hero in the 80s with The Toxic Avenger, Troma continued to break new ground in the 90s and 2000s with quality, entertaining films. In recent years, Troma has emerged with theatrical success with Poultrygeist: Night Of The Chicken Dead, Father’s Day, and Return To Nuke ‘Em High: Vol. 1.
Native New Yorker. Lover of all things pizza, chocolate, pets, and good friends. Karaoke hero. Left of center. Survivor. Fond supporter of cult, obscure and independent cinema - especially fond of Asian movies and global action cinema. Author of the bi-weekly Hit List. Founder and editor of Film Combat Syndicate. Still, very much, only human.
