From the moment a new Toxic Avenger movie was announced starring Peter Dinklage as the title character, we all had the same thought: “What is he going to look like?” Then, after the film premiered at Fantastic Fest 2023 and io9 reviewed it (very favorably), the number one question I got on social media was “What does Toxie look like?” The film’s release was then in flux for a while, but now that it’s coming out this summer, the team behind the Troma-inspired remake is ready to show you what Dinklage looks like as The Toxic Avenger.
Entertainment Weekly revealed the exclusive images and you can bask in their gooey glory below.
“The goal was to try to stay true to the vibe of Lloyd [Kaufman’s] original Jennifer Aspinall/Mitch Cohen creature, with some influence from the Toxic Crusaders cartoon’s look, while also trying to do something new and weird and lovable with Toxie’s design,” Toxic Avenger director Macon Blair told EW. “I love what Millennium FX did with it—part human, part mutant, all heart.”
The article also reveals a question I had since watching the film, which is: is that actually Dinklage under all the prosthetics? The answer is no. Actor Luisa Guerreiro is Toxie once he gets, well, toxic.
Before that though, the film follows a janitor named Winston (Dinklage). He struggles to keep things afloat after his wife dies, leaving him with a stepson (Jacob Tremblay). Winston is diagnosed with a terminal illness but denied coverage by his company, led by Kevin Bacon. He attempts to get revenge, gets killed, dumped in toxic waste, and you can basically guess the rest.
As we said in our review of the film, The Toxic Avenger is very aware of what it is and is trying to be. It’s gross and stupid but also funny and heartfelt. Even when Toxie is splattering people with his mop, you can still feel that he’s doing it for a reason—his stepson. Which is nice.
You’ll finally be able to see for yourself August 29 when The Toxic Avenger opens in theaters. What do you think of the new look?
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