Macon Blair is one of the more interesting up-and-coming filmmakers. After appearing in Jeremy Saulnier’s films “Blue Ruin” and “Green Room,” and writing “Hold the Dark,” the actor-turned-filmmaker went on to write and direct his own feature, “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.” And if you take those four films as examples, it’s really difficult to pin down just what Blair’s sensibilities are, except to say that he loves taking genres and injecting his own, decidedly, fucked up style. Because of this, it’s equally shocking and obvious that Blair has signed on to remake “The Toxic Avenger.”
According to Variety, Macon Blair has signed on to write and direct the remake/reboot of Troma’s classic superhero “The Toxic Avenger.” For those not aware, “The Toxic Avenger” is a 1984 film (some say trash, others – like me – say classic) that tells the story of a skinny, nerdy janitor that gets bullied, falls in a vat of toxic waste, and turns into a superhero. Albeit, not the cool Captain America-type superhero. The Toxic Avenger is a deformed, melted-face, superhero that wears a tutu and fights crime with a mop.
But even a plot description doesn’t do “The Toxic Avenger” justice. The film is probably best known for its incredibly over-the-top sense of humor, which can be described as repulsive or subversive, depending on your tastes. One scene, in particular, has become truly legendary, as it features the villains of the film driving a car and laughing as they rack up “points” while hitting old people, kids, and other folks with the vehicle. It’s that type of film.
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As mentioned, Macon Blair has proven himself, particularly with ‘I Don’t Feel At Home,’ as a filmmaker that might actually be able to crack the code of making “The Toxic Avenger” an elevated concept and not just a schlocky parody that it could be seen as. He’s a filmmaker that isn’t afraid to mix violence with comedy and is able to ride that fine line quite well.
There’s no release date set, but it would appear that Legendary is fully invested in bringing “The Toxic Avenger” to life sooner rather than later.
You can watch the trailer for the original below: