You might know James Gunn as the all-star writer/director of the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy movies – but did you know he’s also the writer of Tromeo and Juliet, possibly the only adaptation of a Shakespeare play to feature a horny mutant cow monster? Yup, Gunn got his start with Lloyd Kaufman and Troma Entertainment, both writing the scripts and appearing in the films in roles as diverse as Mike the Crazy Boom Guy and Insane Masturbator.
Now that he’s hit the big time, you might think he’d be too famous for Troma. Well, think again, as Kaufman has announced that Gunn’s working on the script for Toxic Avenger 5. And can I just say how cool it is that Gunn, already held extremely high in my estimations, still has time for a rickety yet insanely loveable studio like Troma between making mega-blockbusters.
Anyhow, Kaufman describes the fifth installment thusly:
This is a very ambitious Toxic Avenger movie. The script is complete and it will focus on Toxie’s two children who, 20 years after part four, have all grown up. And one has mutated into a very strange being. Toxie is going to go to Chernobyl in this one. It will cost just $100,000 – but I think it is the best one yet. I have worked with James Gunn and the script we have for The Toxic Avenger 5 is the finest I have read, it shows Toxie fighting the bureaucrats and the obnoxious rich people who are harming the people of Tromaville.”
I’ve always nursed a soft spot for Troma and the Toxic Avenger in particular. I was a fan of the unlikely 1990s cartoon spinoff that hoped to capture some of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles audience, which led me inexorably to the original films (via my friend’s video rental shop), whose combination of boobs and gross-out gore blew my 12-year-old mind. So, I can’t wait to see what Toxie’s up to next.
There’s only one problem, which Kaufman explains as so:
“The problem is that we need to get our new Troma movie, Shakespeare’s Shitstorm, which is our version of The Tempest, out into the cinemas and on DVD so that we can get some money together for it.”
So, c’mon people – sign up for Shakespeare’s Shitstorm as soon as you get the chance! We need a Toxic Avenger 5.