The Toxic Avenger remake goes green and gets a director

Troma Films recently announced that writer, director and producer Steve Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine, High Fidelity) has signed on to direct the upcoming remake of The Toxic Avenger, and will co-write the script with Daniel C. Mitchell. Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures, and Richard Saperstein & Charlie Corwin of Original Media are producing.

Producers announced in April that they had secured the rights to the franchise, including the 1984 cult classic, four sequels, an animated TV series, and comic books. Original Media will finance the project, which is envisioned as an environmentally conscious action-comedy.

Pink commented, “I’m thrilled to be working on this project. The Toxic Avenger is exactly what the country – wait, that’s not big enough – what the world needs right now.”

Troma Films’ Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz – creators of the original ‘Toxie’ – will executive produce the new Toxic Avenger, along with Kerry Foster of Weed Road, and Shara Kay in the co-producer’s chair.

Goldsman and Saperstein last worked together on Sony’s 2008 superhero blockbuster Hancock, which Goldsman produced and Saperstein executive produced.

Weed Road’s many high profile projects have included I Am Legend (also starring Will Smith), Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Constantine. Saperstein, former president of Dimension Films, most recently produced another Troma remake – the psychological thriller, Mother’s Day, slated for release in 2011. Corwin produced the acclaimed independent films The Squid and the Whale, Half Nelson and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. Mitchell recently set up the action-comedy Zap Gun! with producer Marc Platt.