Citizen Toxie: Elijah Wood Set to Play Villain in The Toxic Avenger

Image courtesy WB

As we have talked about in the past,  The Toxic Avenger has had a remake in the works for a long time. While there has been talk about the reboot or remake, there hasn't been a lot of movement on it until this year. Earlier this year, Legendary Pictures announced that they acquired the rights to The Toxic Avenger and chose Macon Blair to write and direct the film. For while, there hasn't been a lot of news about the film with the exception of Peter Dinklage being confirmed to play Toxie and that Jacob Tremblay  signed on to join the film, playing the part of the Toxic Avenger's son.  As the film edges closer and closer to production, more folks are joining the cast. 

Huge horror buff Elijah Wood has joined the cast. He will play the film's central villain.  Wood will play a corrupt executive with no regard for the well being of others and finds himself going toe to toe in a power struggle against the Toxic Avenger.  Seems like a fun role for Wood to sink his teeth into and a nice reunion for Wood and Blair after their Netflix film I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore.

The remake is described as a contemporary reimagining of the 1984 cult classic. The film will center on a struggling everyman, played by Dinklage, who is transformed into a mutant freak after being pushed into a vat of toxic waste and must become an underdog hero to save his son, his friends and the community from the forces of corruption and greed.

Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman created The Toxic Avenger in 1984 and the character quickly became the mascot and spokesperson for the subversive film company after it mysteriously had a terrific run as a midnight movie. Next came a slew of sequels and a kids animated cartoon and yes, even a Marvel comic. He's become an icon in the independent film world, carrying Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz to being the new Roger Corman. The reboot will be a joint project between Troma and Legendary with no release details being divulged as of yet but we will keep you updated.