Say what?! Now before you start breaking out your best Terminator/Toxic Avenger mashup jokes, just note that Arnie is actually not looking to play the part of Toxie himself, but rather a mentor to the deformed hero.
Like I said, “Say what?”.
Reports ahead of Cannes are that International Film Trust are pitching a new Arnie led reboot of the campy 1980’s cult action comedy hit, which followed Melvin Ferd III, a scrawny janitor who gets picked on and tormented by the local lowlifes. When one of these torment sessions results in Melvin accidentally falling into toxic waste, he finds himself transformed into a disfigured creature of superhuman size and strength, which he then uses to rid his town of unsavoury elements.
This new version was apparently thought up by Hot Tub Time Machine director Steve Pink, who would also be helming the reboot, while relative newcomer Daniel C. Mitchell would be c0-penning the script with him.
This new script would see the Melvin character being dumped into a vat of toxic waste by a corrupt chemical company, while Arnie will take on the role of “The Exterminator” (oh, I see what they did there!), an ex-black ops agent who trains the fledgling mutated hero to use his new powers for good. Together they will battle the forces of the polluting chemical company. All of which sounds exactly as cheesy/campy as this entire concept is, so well done on that part.
The press release announcing Arnie’s involvement indicate that the film is ready to go into production in the 3rd quarter of this year, but it’s unknown how those plans would line up with pretty full dance card. He’s just wrapped up David Ayer’s Ten and is about to get busy on the prison break film, Escape Plan, with fellow elderly action hero Sylvester Stallone. He’s also still got Legend of Conan and Triplets lined up, plus rumours have attached him to another Terminator flick and an adaptation of classic comic Unknown Soldier.
Past rumours have actually linked John Travolta to the role of Toxie, but there’s no mention of that in the press release so that will probably not pan out. Although I would pay good money to see that movie happen.
And for those of you youngsters who have spent this entire article with a confused look on your face, here’s the trailer for the original film, followed by the full press release.
Los Angeles, CA (May, 2013) –Action superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger (TERMINATOR series, TOTAL RECALL) is in negotiations to star in writer/director Steve Pink’s (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 1 & 2) big budget action comedy THE TOXIC AVENGER produced by Akiva Goldsman (CONSTANTINE, I AM LEGEND, MR AND MRS SMITH), Richard Saperstein (HANCOCK, 1408, SE7EN), Charlie Corwin (HALF NELSON, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE), Stephen Kessler and Michael Benaroya (LAWLESS, MARGIN CALL). Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz will executive produce. The announcement was made today by International Film Trust’s (IFT) President Ariel Veneziano who will handle all international rights to the film alongside IFT’s Head of Sales Christian de Gallegos.
Set to be introduced to buyers at Cannes 2013, THE TOXIC AVENGER is currently in pre-production and scheduled to start principal photography this fall.
Loosely based on Lloyd Kaufman’s classic Troma franchise, THE TOXIC AVENGER is the tale of a high-school kid who gets dunked in a vat of toxic waste by a corrupt chemical company. He survives the ordeal with one major side effect: upon contact with toxic chemicals, he transforms into a monster with superhuman strength. Schwarzenegger would play “the Exterminator,” a former black ops agent, who trains Toxie to use his powers for good. Together they take on the lurking menace created by the polluters, and the polluters themselves.
“Moviegoers around the world were thrilled when Arnold Schwarzenegger returned to acting so effortlessly filling the gap that he left behind,” said producer and IFT co-founder Michael Benaroya. “He is the ultimate action hero with a natural comedic versatility and will be pitch perfect in The Toxic Avenger.”
“Our film is a perfect combination of commercial genre, star power and award winning filmmakers to set it apart from other titles on offer at Cannes this year. The Toxic Avenger is a blockbuster in waiting with franchise potential. The buyers will love it,” said IFT President Ariel Veneziano.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in James Cameron’s THE TERMINATOR series solidified his place as one of the leading action hero actors with roles in blockbuster hits including PREDATOR, TOTAL RECALL, TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY and TRUE LIES. Proving to be a multi-talented performer, Schwarzenegger crossed over into comedic roles with box office hits TWINS opposite Danny DeVito and Ivan Reitman’s KINDERGARTEN COP. After taking an extended break to become the Governor of California, Schwarzenegger returned to acting in 2012 with THE EXPENDABLES 2, which grossed over $300 million worldwide. He will next be seen in Summit Entertainment’s ESCAPE PLAN and Open Road Films’ TEN. He is represented by CAA and Patrick Knapp at Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Felmdman Schenkman & Goodman.
Last Updated: May 14, 2013
James Francis
May 14, 2013 at 14:52
They better have a head-popping-under-tyres scene!