AtSan Diego Comic-Con, the team behindThe Toxic Avengerreveals an update about a potential sequel. The 2025 film is a remake of the 1984 action B-movie of the same name, which starred Mitch Cohen in the lead role. Borrowing a similar storyline, the remake follows the story of a janitor named Winston Gooze who transforms into a new hero after a horrific accident.
This version ofThe Toxic Avengeris directed by Macon Blairand starsPeter Dinklagein the lead role. The other cast members include Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Luisa Guerreiro, David Yow, Annette Badland, and Blair himself.The Toxic Avengerisset for release on August 29.
In an interview withScreenRantat SDCC, Blair, Dinklage, and writer Lloyd Kaufman spoke about the possibility of aToxic Avengersequel. The team was asked if they had a plan for more movies and if they would be willing. Blair opened with enthusiasm, noting thathe “would absolutely dive back in” if given the chance.
Dinklage then pointed out that it will be easier to do so if the audience supports the movie by going to see it. Blair notes that while it is “legally false” that a certain box office target would grant a sequel, he still wanted to say “we’re going to do it.” Check out the full quotes below:
Macon Blair:If somebody were to ask me, I would absolutely dive back in.
Peter Dinklage:If everybody goes and sees it, it’ll be easier.
Lloyd Kaufman:Yeah, good point. Yeah, very good point, Peter.
Macon Blair:There is a bargain at the end of the movie that implies if we hit a certain threshold of box office, that it will automatically trigger a sequel, which is legally false. And this is probably an instance of fraud, but let’s just say we’re going to do it. [Laughs]
What This Means For The Toxic Avenger
As it stands, the firstToxic Avengerfilmhas had a tough road to release. The movie originally premiered at Fantastic Fest in 2023, and hoped for a wider release that same year. However,the team then struggled to find a distributor,leaving the film’s exhibition delayed.
Eventually, Cineverse collaborated with Iconic Events Releasing to create a distribution plan for the film, which is now set for release in just over one month’s time. Still,the ongoing distribution struggle is not inherently a great signfor the universe’s continuation.
However, Blair, Dinklage, and Kaufman make the point thatThe Toxic Avenger’s box office is really where it lives or dies from here.It is being released over Labor Day weekend, which could be both a detriment and an opportunity. As it competes with bothCaught StealingandThe Rosesthat weekend,The Toxic Avengerwill have to hold its own.
Our Take On This Toxic Avenger Update
Blair Seems Optimistic
The good news is that it sounds like Blair has a lot of enthusiasm about theToxic Avenger-verse should things go well. This is a good sign for the first film itself, becauseit shows just how passionate its writer-director is about the upcoming project.
TheoriginalToxic Avengerhas become a cult classic, soI’m hopeful that this newer version could do well in theaters too. Dinklage is a fantastic actor and thoroughly entertaining lead, so if he is on his A-game here, this could be the first film in an interesting horror comedy series.
