In a surprise reveal, Entertainment Weekly has given us a tantalizing glimpse of the upcoming film ‘The Toxic Avenger,’ and it’s nothing short of extraordinary. The teaser images have taken the internet by storm, showcasing two Hollywood heavyweights, Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, in roles that are a far cry from anything we’ve seen them in before.
Dinklage, known for his unforgettable portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in ‘Game of Thrones,’ takes on the role of Winston Gooze, a humble janitor working at a chemical factory. However, his life takes a shocking turn when a terrible industrial accident transforms him into the film’s titular hero, the Toxic Avenger. Director Macon Blair sheds light on this transformation, stating, “There is a terrible industrial accident that renders him a mutant and an outcast, but also gives him some super strength and super abilities that sets him on a path of being an unlikely vigilante in this downward-spiraling society.” Gooze’s journey mirrors that of the original Toxic Avenger—a character singularly unqualified to be a hero but driven by a heart in the right place, a theme that resonates with audiences.
The earlier teaser images had hinted at Dinklage’s transformation into the repulsive crusader, but Blair has wisely chosen to keep Toxie’s final form under wraps, tantalizing fans with anticipation. Blair draws inspiration from the 1989 sequel ‘The Toxic Avenger Part II’ and the threequel ‘The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie’ for the hero’s look, and he also pays homage to the iconic elements from the original film, including the tutu melted onto Toxie’s body and the janitor’s mop as his super weapon. Practical effects will bring this gritty hero to life, promising a visual feast of goopy boils and grotesque details.
But it’s not just Peter Dinklage’s transformation that has fans buzzing. Elijah Wood, famous for his role as Frodo Baggins in ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ looks nearly unrecognizable as Fritz Garbinger, the sleazy younger brother of slick CEO Bob Garbinger, played by Kevin Bacon. Blair describes Fritz’s look as a cross between Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff in ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ and Danny DeVito as the Penguin in ‘Batman Returns.’ He explains, “The look came about by discussions I had with our designers and with Elijah himself. I wanted it to feel like a Peter Sellers type of performance where he just goes invisible. The idea is that you forget that it’s the Elijah that you know from ‘Lord of the Rings’ or anything else.” This transformation showcases Wood’s remarkable versatility as an actor, leaving fans eager to see his take on this quirky character.
For those unfamiliar with ‘The Toxic Avenger,’ it’s important to note its unique place in cinematic history. The original film, released in 1984 and directed by Troma Studios founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, initially struggled at the box office but later achieved cult status. It epitomized Troma’s signature style of B-Movie gore and violence. Two sequels followed in 1989, with a fourth installment, ‘Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV,’ arriving in 2000. Surprisingly, the gruesome hero also ventured into the world of animation with the ‘Toxic Crusaders’ series, which aired 13 episodes in 1991.
The highly anticipated ‘The Toxic Avenger’ is set to premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 21, leaving fans eager to witness the astonishing transformations of Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood on the big screen. While the film’s wider release date is still a mystery, the buzz surrounding this quirky superhero flick is sure to grow, making it one of the most hotly anticipated releases of the year. Buckle up, movie lovers, because ‘The Toxic Avenger’ promises to be a wild ride into a world where heroes come in the most unexpected forms
