It’s a match made in stoner-heaven! Deadline reports that a live-action remake of Troma’s hilariously gruesome B-movie, The Toxic Avenger, is being developed at Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein’s Storyscape Entertainment, with Sausage Party co-helmer Conrad Vernon on board to direct. Arnold Schwarzenegger was actually attached to star in an earlier incarnation, but has since walked away.
For those in need of a Toxie history lesson, the original was a 1984 horror comedy directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman for Troma Entertainment. The story focused on a nerdy janitor named Melvin, who falls into a toxic waste drum and emerges as a hideously deformed, freakishly strong superhero. The film was virtually ignored upon its release, but has since become regarded as a cult classic, spawning several sequels, comic books and even a short-lived animated series.
Here’s what Vernon had to say about signing on to helm the picture:
“The opportunity to re-imagine a favorite cult-classic from my high school years is an honor. Toxie is an underground icon. My favorite kind.”
Though this new version will likely retain some of the campiness of the original, it’s apparently being set up as “a more grounded and mainstream telling of the story.” Count us in.
The Toxic Avenger doesn’t currently have a release date, but we’ll update you as soon as any more information comes our way. In the meantime, be sure to share your thoughts below.