Highly Acclaimed Gory Superhero Comedy
Earned a 92% Score on Rotten Tomatoes After Wowing Audiences at
Fantastic Fest
LOS
ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --
Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS), a next-generation entertainment
studio, today announced the highly anticipated theatrical release
of The Toxic Avenger, a daring and darkly comedic
reimagining of the cult-classic franchise that first took the world
by storm in the 1980s. Directed by Macon Blair (I Don't
Feel at Home in This World Anymore) and starring Emmy and
Golden Globe winner Peter
Dinklage (Game of Thrones), this fresh take on
the beloved anti-hero known as "Toxie" will premiere as an unrated
wide release later this year. Cineverse acquired all U.S. and
Canadian theatrical, home entertainment, and streaming rights
through a deal with Legendary Entertainment.
In this bold new chapter of the classic midnight movie franchise
created by Lloyd Kaufman and
Troma Entertainment; a shocking accident transforms downtrodden
janitor Winston Gooze (Dinklage)
into a mutant vigilante. Armed with his signature mop, the unlikely
hero battles freaks, gangsters and corrupt CEOs while trying to
save his relationship with his son. The story channels the
subversive gonzo energy of the original Toxic Avenger while
delivering a fresh, contemporary twist. The film features an
all-star cast beyond Dinklage, including Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, Julia Davis, and Taylour Paige. Tackling themes of corporate
greed and systemic social injustice, it is as outrageous and
hilarious as it is relevant, with timely commentary drawn straight
from today's headlines.
Opening to critical acclaim at Fantastic Fest, The Toxic Avenger
has been hailed as a riotous blend of social satire, inventive
gore, and unexpected heart. With a 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes,
the film reaffirms the enduring power of subversive cinema to
captivate and challenge audiences.
"The Toxic Avenger isn't just a great film; it's an
important one," said Cineverse Chairman and CEO Chris McGurk. "Peter
Dinklage's transformative performance and Macon Blair's
fearless direction deliver a story that speaks to the anxieties of
our time with outrageous humor and unflinching creativity. This is
the kind of movie that major studios are averse to release because
it dares to push boundaries, but Cineverse is rooted in championing
bold, uncompromising storytelling. We believe audiences are ready –
and eager – for films like this to take center stage."
In reaction to the upcoming release, Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma and
creator of The Toxic Avenger commented, "Michael Herz, Toxie, and I have mopped our tears
away! Macon Blair's Fantoxic reimagining of Toxie's life is even
better than Troma's! The Troma Fans will be ecstatic!"
Cineverse's proven track record with unrated films, including
last October's box-office phenomenon Terrifier 3 – the
highest-grossing non-rated film in U.S. history – underscores its
ability to connect audiences with bold, authentic stories. The
company's horror division, Bloody Disgusting, has emerged as a
champion for genre films with passionate fanbases, including the
upcoming reimagining of Silent Night, Deadly Night set for
release in late 2025.
"We are proud to be growing a reputation as the home for iconic
franchises that have incredibly passionate fan bases who just want
to see their favorite stories on the big screen," added
Cineverse Chief Content Officer Yolanda
Macias. "This wouldn't be possible without the support
of indie film and bold filmmakers that come from visionaries like
Mary Parent and Legendary who were
determined to figure out a smart way to get this film into
theaters. We are grateful for their partnership and excited to
bring this big budget remake of this story to everyone who, like
us, can't wait to see Toxie back in theaters."
"I'm beyond grateful to the team behind The Toxic
Avenger who were so supportive and steady-handed as
we searched for the perfect distribution partner for our film,"
said Director Macon Blair. "It's so cool that
folks will have the chance to see this in theaters, it's a fun
rowdy movie you wanna see with a crowd. Mutant hero smashes bad
guys with a mop: perfect entertainment for the whole family! Our
goal was always to preserve the heart and spirit of the original
Toxie (which was seared into my brain at a very young age) and try
to make something that Troma fans would dig and at the same time do
something with the character that feels fresh. Lloyd and Michael at
Troma have been a blast to work with, absolutely everyone at
Legendary are stars, and I can't wait to start working with the
champs at Cinverse to bring this version of Toxie to fans new and
old."
Macon Blair directed the film from a screenplay he wrote based
on Lloyd Kaufman's "The
Toxic Avenger" (1984). The film is produced by Mary Parent, Alex
Garcia, Lloyd Kaufman and
Michael Herz. The executive producers are Andrew Pfeffer, Jay
Ashenfelter and Macon Blair with casting by
Mark Bennett and Julie Harkin.
Blair's collaborators behind the camera include Emmy Award
winning director of
photography, Dana Gonzalez;
production designer Alexander
Cameron; editors Brett W.
Bachman and James Thomas;
visual effects supervisor Chris
Ritvo; costume designer Vanessa
Porter; with music by Will
Blair and Brooke Blair.
On behalf of Cineverse the deal was negotiated by Chief Legal
Officer, Gary Loffredo, Chief
Content Officer, Yolanda Macias and
Executive Director, Acquisitions, Brandon
Hill. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal on behalf of
the filmmakers.
About Bloody Disgusting
Bloody Disgusting is Cineverse's horror division serving fans
through premium editorial, audio, video and social content and
branded merchandise. As the No. 1 entertainment destination for
horror, Bloody Disgusting is home to the leading website in horror
at bloody-disgusting.com; Bloody FM, the chart-topping horror
division of Cineverse Podcast Network; Bloody Press, Cineverse's
publishing arm focused on creating and bringing audiobooks, e-books
and print editions to market; and Bloody Disgusting merchandise.
Bloody Disgusting also powers SCREAMBOX (SVOD) and SCREAMBOX TV
(FAST channel), the content destination for casual and die-hard
horror fans alike.
About Cineverse Entertainment
Cineverse super-serves passionate audiences by distributing
content across all windows and platforms, from theatrical to
digital to physical. This most recently includes the breakout box
office success Terrifier 3 and the upcoming reimagined
features in the Silent Night Deadly Night and The Toxic
Avenger franchises.
About Cineverse
Cineverse (Nasdaq: CNVS) is a next-generation entertainment
studio that empowers creators and entertains fans with a wide
breadth of content through the power of technology. It has
developed a new blueprint for delivering entertainment experiences
to passionate audiences and results for its partners with
unprecedented efficiency, and distributes more than 71,000 premium
films, series, and podcasts. Cineverse connects fans with
bold, authentic, independent stories. Properties include
the highest-grossing non-rated film in U.S. history; dozens of
streaming fandom channels; a premier podcast network; top horror
destination Bloody Disgusting; and more. Powering visionary
storytelling with cutting-edge innovation, Cineverse's proprietary
streaming tools and AI technology drive revenue and reach to
redefine the next era of entertainment. For more information,
visit home.cineverse.com.
About Legendary Entertainment
Legendary Entertainment is a leading media company with film
(Legendary Pictures), television and digital (Legendary Television
and Digital Media) and comics (Legendary Comics) divisions
dedicated to owning, producing and delivering content to worldwide
audiences. Legendary has built a library of marquee media
properties and has established itself as a trusted brand which
consistently delivers high-quality, commercial entertainment
including some of the world's most popular intellectual property.
In aggregate, Legendary Pictures-associated productions have
realized grosses of more than $20
billion worldwide at the box office. To learn more visit:
www.legendary.com
CONTACTS:
For Media, The Lippin Group for Cineverse
cineverse@lippingroup.com
For Investors, Julie Milstead
investorrelations@cineverse.com
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SOURCE Cineverse Corp.
