The upcoming reboot of The Toxic Avenger has found its new bad guy in the form of screen legend Kevin Bacon. Based on the low-budget 1984 film from independent schlock house Troma Entertainment, The Toxic Avenger is a black comedy that follows the story of a janitor who falls into a drum of toxic waste, which horribly disfigures him but also gifts him with super-human size and strength. While it went almost completely unnoticed when it was first released, it eventually grew a cult following and became Troma’s most successful film, inspiring three sequels, a stage musical and an animated series.
Word of a Toxic Avenger remake by a major studio had been doing the rounds as early as 2010, and in 2013, Arnold Schwarzenegger was even in talks for a role. In 2018, Legendary Pictures announced that they had acquired the rights to remake the film, and Macon Blair was tapped to write and direct. Late last year, Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage signed on as the film’s titular hero alongside Taylour Paige. And earlier this month, rumors began circulating that Lord of the Rings' Elijah Woods was also set to join the cast as the lead villain. However, that rumor doesn't appear to have come true.
According to a new report from THR, Dinklage’s Toxic Avenger has found his nemesis in the form of Kevin Bacon. While details are scant regarding Bacon’s role, if the reboot follows the original film’s plot, it could potentially be that of the city’s corrupt Mayor whose criminal activities are threatened by the Toxic Avenger’s crime-fighting escapades. According to THR, filming is set to get underway in Bulgaria later this month.
With Bacon’s extensive film credits boasting over 70 film and 24 television appearances, this latest role is certainly not his first brush with villainy. Over the years, Bacon has played several bad guys, including that of Sebastian Shaw, a.k.a Dr Klaus Schmidt, in 2011’s X-Men: First Class. Bacon certainly has both the experience and comedic skills to give Dinklage’s Toxic Avenger a run for his money.
While Bacon’s extensive career has seen him work on some critically acclaimed fare with some of the world’s most celebrated directors, such as Clint Eastwood and Ron Howard, he is also no stranger to working on far stranger, less serious films. Not only did his film career begin with National Lampoon’s Animal House, but he was also the leading star of 1990’s horror-comedy Tremors. Fans of The Toxic Avenger can rest easy knowing Bacon will no doubt be bringing his enormous experience to bear in the new reboot.
Source: THR