Conrad Vernon, the co-director of Sony’s raunchy sleeper August animated hit “Sausage Party,” will helm a live-action remake of the 1984 cult classic “The Toxic Avenger,” a source close to the movie confirmed to TheWrap.
Richard Saperstein’s Storyscape Entertainment, a new joint venture between Saperstein and Bob Cooper, will produce the film alongside Akiva Goldsman‘s Weed Road and Charlie Corwin. Mike Arnold and Chris Poole will rewrite the screenplay by Steve Pink and D.C. Mitchell.
“The opportunity to re-imagine a favorite cult-classic from my high school years is an honor,” Vernon said in a statement provided to TheWrap. “Toxie is an underground icon. My favorite kind!” said Vernon.
“Conrad Vernon is a subversive comedic genius. He is the perfect director to bring this iconoclastic franchise back to life,” Saperstein said.
Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Films, who created the original, will executive produce along with Cooper and Alex Schwartz of Storyscape Entertainment and Greg Lessans of Weed Road. The film’s other executive producers include Shara Kay, Armen Aghaeian, Steve Kessler, Holly Kobzina, Dave Mendez, Edward Mokhtarian, Geno Tazioli, Steve Pink and Mike Wilkins.
Vernon is represented by UTA, Mosaic and Todd Stern. Arnold and Poole are represented by UTA, Principato-Young and Stone, Genow, Smelkinson.