After years in limbo, The Toxic Avenger is officially back — and bloodier than ever. The long-awaited remake of the 1984 Troma cult classic has dropped its full red band trailer, giving fans their first uncensored look at the radioactive carnage finally heading to cinemas. Take a look above and learn more below.
A violent, grotesque reimagining of a cult icon
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Peter Dinklage stars as Winston Gooze, a meek janitor whose terminal illness and a greedy employer lead to a fateful encounter with a vat of toxic waste. The result? A horrifying transformation into the Toxic Avenger — a deformed anti-hero who takes violent revenge against corporate corruption, all while trying to protect his son and community.
As you would expect, the gore is dialled all the way up. The trailer is packed with non-PC craziness – from limbs being torn off, to jaws being smacked off faces, to heads exploding. Dinklage voices the newly mutated Toxie, while physical performance duties go to Luisa Guerreiro beneath the grotesque prosthetics.
The film boasts a strong supporting cast: Kevin Bacon plays villainous industrialist Bob Garbinger, Elijah Wood transforms into the deranged Fritz, and Taylour Paige stars as JJ Doherty, a vigilante journalist. Jacob Tremblay, Jane Levy, Julia Davis, and Blair himself round out the cast.
From a 2021 shoot to a 2025 theatrical release
After being filmed in 2021, Macon Blair’s take on The Toxic Avenger had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it earned praise for its anarchic tone and practical effects. Blair — best known for his directorial debut I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore and as a longtime collaborator of Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Green Room) — both wrote and directed the reboot. It marks his second feature behind the camera and sees him diving headfirst into chaotic, cartoonish horror with clear affection for the original’s DIY spirit.
Despite early buzz, the film struggled to secure distribution due to its content. That changed in early 2025, when Cineverse and theatrical partner Iconic Events acquired U.S. rights. Umbrella Entertainment is set to distribute in Australia.
The Toxic Avenger opens in Australian cinemas on August 28 and in the U.S. on August 29.
