The Toxic Avenger Remake To Be Directed By Conrad Vernon

Troma Entertainment's 1984 superhero comedy film The Toxic Avenger — which became a cult classic and spawned two poorly-received sequels (three, if you count the well-regarded 2000 independent sequel Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV), a comic book published by Marvel, and a short-lived animated series — is getting a remake and will be directed by Sausage Party co-director Conrad Vernon.

This more grounded and mainstream version of the story is being developed by Bob Cooper and Richard Saperstein's Storyscape Entertainment. Saperstein, Akiva Goldsman's Weed Road, and CharlieCorwin are producing. Troma's Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, the creators of The Toxic Avenger, will executive produce, along with Cooper, Alex Schwartz of Storyscape Entertainment, and Greg Lessans of Weed Road.

The script that was originally penned by Steve Pink and D.C. Mitchell is being rewritten by Archer and The Grackle scribes, Mike Arnold and Chris Poole.

Saperstein said: "Conrad Vernon is a subversive comedic genius. He is the perfect director to bring this iconoclastic franchise back to life."

Said Vernon: "The opportunity to re-imagine a favorite cult-classic from my high school years is an honor. Toxie is an underground icon. My favorite kind."

The Toxic Avenger (1984) - Meet Toxie, valiant hero and deformed freak who escaped the life of a gawky dork when a prank ended with him falling into a barrel of toxic waste. His radioactively endowed strength is put to use tearing apart (literally tearing apart!) the sleazy criminals and corrupt politicians infesting the city of Tromaville.

(via Deadline)