Macon Blair to write, direct 'Toxic Avenger' reboot

Filmmaker Macon Blair has been tapped to write and direct the reboot of the cult classic "The Toxic Avenger".

The studio Legendary acquired the feature film rights in December and have quickly made the project a high priority at the studio, reports variety.com.

Kaufman and Herz produced the original 1984 comedy, set in the fictional town of Tromaville, N.J., and centred on a mild-mannered janitor at a health club who's chased out of a second storey window by bullies and lands in a drum of toxic waste.

The chemicals cause him to transform into the Toxic Avenger, who has superhuman size and strength and stands up to bullies and corruption.

"The Toxic Avenger" became successful after a long run as a midnight movie in New York City, leading to the sequels "The Toxic Avenger Part II", "The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie" and "Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV".

The property also became a stage musical production, a children's cartoon TV series, and a Marvel comic.

Blair, who spent the first half of the decade in front of the camera in films like "Blue Ruin" and "Green Room," recently moved behind the lens starting with his directorial debut "I Don't Feel At Home in This World Anymore".

--IANS

dc/bg