The reboot of The Toxic Avenger now has a confirmed release date. After reports hinted at a 2025 release, the exact date has finally been revealed.
According to Deadline, Cineverse plans to release the film in theaters over Labor Day weekend on August 29, 2025. This comes two years after its premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, in September 2023. Fans have been eagerly waiting, especially since the reboot received unexpected praise from critics at the festival, earning a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews.
Written and directed by Macon Blair, the Toxic Avenger reboot is based on the 1984 film. The original movie, made by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Entertainment, became a cult classic. It follows a shy janitor who falls into a barrel of toxic waste after a nasty prank. The accident turns him into a “monster” with superhuman strength, and he becomes a vigilante called the “Toxic Avenger,” taking down local criminals. The movie is as crazy as it sounds, and that’s why fans love it. It even led to three sequels.
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Blair’s version of the film keeps the same basic story but adds some new twists. Peter Dinklage (from Game of Thrones) plays Winston Gooze, a janitor who turns into a monster hero after being exposed to toxic chemicals. The reboot adds another layer by showing Winston as a father trying to save his relationship with his son while fighting criminals and corrupt businesspeople. It’s also described as crazy, but in a fun way, similar to the wild violence in The Itchy & Scratchy Show from The Simpsons.
[The film has] Itchy & Scratchy-type violence. We’ve got a guy who gets his head shoved into a car engine, and it kind of grinds his head up. That was a gag I really liked… I kept thinking Legendary would say, ‘This is not what we want,’ but they kept agreeing to the things I pitched, [which] embraced the silliness and trashiness, while wanting it to be an enjoyable, crowd-pleasing, rock ’n’ roll fun time.
Blair shared with Empire
Elijah Wood also stars in the Toxic Avenger reboot, playing a role that makes him nearly unrecognizable. The film also features Luisa Guerrero, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Sarah Niles, Julia Davis, Jane Levy, and Kevin Bacon. Kaufman and Herz are back as producers, working with Mary Parent and Alex Garcia.
The Toxic Avenger will hit theaters on August 29, 2025.
Source: Deadline