by admin | Jul 26, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(L to R) Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel for ‘TRON: Ares’. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
- ‘TRON: Ares’ showed off some new footage at Comic-Con.
- Director Joachim Rønning was present at the panel.
- The movie will land on October 10th.
With much of Disney’s other big franchises –– Marvel especially –– skipping the San Diego Comic-Con this year, it’s up to ‘TRON: Ares’, the latest entry to feature A.I. Programs and humans mixing, to fly the genre flag.
“No going back.”
Showtimes & Tickets
A highly sophisticated Program called Ares is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I…. Read the Plot
‘TRON: Ares’, directed by Joachim Rønning, features the likes of Jared Leto, Gillian Anderson, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner Smith and (because it’s surely not ‘Tron’ without him) Jeff Bridges.
Related Article: Gillian Anderson is the Latest Addition to the ‘Tron: Ares’ Cast
What’s the story of ‘TRON: Ares’?
Jared Leto as Ares in Disney’s Live Action ‘Tron: Ares’. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
A highly sophisticated Program called Ares (Leto) is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.
What happened at the ‘TRON: Ares’ panel?
(L to R) The cast and crew of ‘TRON: Ares’ at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel. Photo: Disney.
The ‘Ares’ panel began with a digital light display and bots floating around the screens of Hall H, with suited Programs on stage.
Before any of the filmmakers or cast arrived, a new trailer played for the crowd.
Director Rønning brought Leto, Peters, Anderson, Turner-Smith and Bridges on stage to discuss the movie.
Leto admitted he was already in the tank for ‘Tron’ before taking the role:
“At the end of the day, I am an official ‘Tron’ super fan. If I wasn’t on the stage, I would be in the audience, for sure, watching this panel right now, cheering like all these crazy people out here.”
He also called Jeff Bridges a hero, a sentiment surely everyone in the crowd would share.
Rønning was also enthused to work on the movie:
“Well, it’s ‘Tron’. So, I was immediately drawn into it. I love the franchise, the movies, I think, in many ways, are masterpieces. And, you know, I always dreamt about making science fiction. I think the topic is super interesting, and they had a twist to it.”
(L to R) Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel for ‘TRON: Ares’. Photo: Disney.
A couple of new clips were shown, including Leto’s Ares in a light chase with Turner-Smith’s Athena, and one set in the digital world of the Grid, which has been expanded by Peters’ Julian Dillinger (a name that should set alarm bells ringing in ‘Tron’ fans’ minds).
The panel ended with the debut of Nine Inch Nails’ new tie-in single, “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” (Trent Reznor and his group supply the music for the movie).
This is what Leto had to say about the soundtrack:
“The music for ‘Tron’ has always been such an important part. When we were talking about music for this film, there was really only very few people you could think about that could fill those shoes and Nine Inch Nails absolutely did it. I mean, they made music that’s going to live a lifetime.”
When will ‘TRON: Ares’ be in theaters?
The third instalment of the ‘Tron’ franchise will bring the Grid to screens on October 10th.
(L to R) Jodie Turner-Smith, Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 for ‘TRON: Ares’. Photo: Disney.
Other Movies Similar to ‘TRON: Ares’:
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by admin | Jul 25, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(L to R) Alec Gillis, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Elle Fanning and director Dan Trachtenberg at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Preview:
- ‘Predator: Badlands’ showed off new footage at Comic-Con.
- Director Dan Trachtenberg and star Elle Fanning were on the panel.
- Fresh information was revealed.
‘Prey’ director Dan Trachtenberg has become something of a ‘Predator’ specialist, having also made animated adventure ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’.
He’s back with a second outing this year, ‘Predator: Badlands’, which naturally took the opportunity to bring some footage and guests to Comic-Con to make sure audiences are primed.
“First hunt. Last chance.”
In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate… Read the Plot
‘Badlands’, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is live-action entry, and promises plenty of action.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Predator: Killer of Killers’
What’s the story of ‘Predator: Badlands’?
(L to R) Thia (Elle Fanning) and Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Predator: Badlands’ film. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in artificial being Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
What happened at the ‘Predator: Badlands’ panel?
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Alec Gillis at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Predator masks were handed out to the crowd at the start of the panel, which came in handy since a Predator took the stage to menace the assembled audience.
Filmmaker Kevin Smith moderated the panel, and admitted up front that ‘Badlands’ was his favorite ‘Predator’ movie so far.
Smith introduced Trachtenberg, who admitted how excited he was to be promoting a movie at Comic-Con after years attending as a fan:
“You could imagine bringing a movie to Hall H would be a dream for me. It’s something I’m really proud of, and I’m so happy to share it with all of you.”
The Predator carrying Fanning’s character (or half of her) on his back was inspired by Chewbacca carrying C-3PO in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg and Elle Fanning at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
Here’s what Fanning had to say about taking the role:
“Reading the script, what really drew me in was the heart and emotions… there’s no humans. I’m a synthetic android, he’s a Predator. But there’s so much humanity in these characters.”
Trachtenberg was also thinking about emotions- particularly having the Predator face be uncovered a lot more this time, so as to display both the digital work and performance.
The panel closed out with the first 15 minutes of ‘Badlands’ shown to the crowd, which cheered the Predator-y goodness.
In related ‘Predator’ news, ‘Killer of Killers’ will be updated on Hulu with an additional post-credits scene featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch and Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan.
When will ‘Predator: Badlands’ be in theaters?
This latest ‘Predator’ outing stalks into cinemas on November 7th.
(L to R) Director Dan Trachtenberg, Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Alec Gillis at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Hall H panel for ‘Predator: Badlands’. Photo: Disney.
List of Movies in the ‘Predator’ Franchise:
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by admin | Jul 25, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
.(L to R) T. Mollner, Tut Nyuot, Roy Lee, David Jonsson, Mark Hamill and Garrett Wareing attend “The Long Walk” panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
Preview:
- Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk arrived at Comic-Con.
- Mark Hamill and Garrett Wareing were among those on the panel.
- The movie will be released in September.
‘The Long Walk’, just the latest adaptation of prolific author Stephen King’s work –– in this case, a dystopian tale of an annual event that ends with the death of everyone competing save the winner.
With ‘Hunger Games’ director Francis Lawrence overseeing the new movie, it has a dark premise but an impressive cast that includes Cooper Hoffman, Mark Hamill, Garrett Wareing and Ben Wang.
“The task is simple: walk or die.”
Every year, fifty teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as “The Long Walk.” Among this year’s chosen crop is sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty…. Read the Plot
Lionsgate is betting on this one being a success, and brought filmmakers and actors to Comic-Con to raise awareness.
Related Article: San Diego Comic-Con 2025 Preview: Film & TV Panels You Cannot Miss
What’s the story of ‘The Long Walk’?
(L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Every year, fifty teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as “The Long Walk.”
Among this year’s chosen crop is sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty (Hoffman). He knows the rules: that warnings are issued if you fall under speed, stumble, sit down. That after three warnings… you get your ticket.
And what happens then serves as a chilling reminder that there can be only one winner in the Walk. The one that survives.
What happened at ‘The Long Walk’s panel?
Mark Hamill speaks during ‘The Long Walk’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
The movie’s panel opened with the latest trailer and then a soldier taking the stage with a loud hailer to explain the premise of the walk to the audience.
Producer Roy Lee and writer JT Mollner were first up on the panel, with Lee praising Mollner’s script for getting the movie made after years in development.
For his part, Mollner recounted underlining dialogue from the book he wanted to use –– suffice to say, he underlined a lot!
Joining them on stage were the likes of Hamill, Wareing, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot and other cast. The early banter between the young actors in particular was mostly enthusiastic descriptions of their characters’ arcs and praise for their co-stars’ skills.
(L to R) Anthony Breznican, Eric Vespe, Mark Hamill, David Jonsson, Tut Nyuot, Garrett Wareing, Roy Lee and J.T. Mollner speak during ‘The Long Walk’ panel at San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
Hamill revealed that Stephen King had casting approval –– and specifically wanted him to play the character of the Mayor, who oversees the Walk. For his part, Hamill wanted to dehumanize the character as much as possible.
Lawrence and Ben Wang weren’t present at the panel –– they’re both at work on ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ –– but they sent a video praising their colleagues and hyping ‘The Long Walk’.
The panel wrapped up with a screening of the first 22 minutes of the movie. Tense stuff!
When will ‘The Long Walk’ be in theaters?
The new Stephen King adaptation marches into theaters on September 12th.
‘The Long Walk’ opens in theaters on September 12th.
Other Stephen King Movies:
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by admin | Jul 25, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(L to R) Renny Harlin, Courtney Solomon, Madelaine Petsch pictured with the strangers at San Diego Comic-Con 2025.
Preview:
- ‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ attended San Diego Comic-Con 2025 ahead of its September release.
- Director Renny Harlin, Producer Courtney Solomon, and star Madelaine Petsch were in attendance.
- The filmmakers and star reveal behind-the-scenes details about the upcoming film.
The upcoming horror film, ‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’, came to San Diego Comic-Con 2025 ahead of the September 26, 2025 release. The film follows three masked maniacs who return to finish the job after they discover one of their victims is still alive. With nowhere to run and no one to trust, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) soon finds herself in a brutal fight for survival against psychopaths who are more than willing to kill anyone who stands in their way.
“Survival was just the beginning.”
On the final day of their cross country road trip, a couple’s vehicle breaks down, forcing them to take refuge in a remote Airbnb. As night falls, three masked strangers… Read the Plot
Director Renny Harlin (‘Die Hard 2’, ‘Exorcist: The Beginning’), Producer Courtney Solomon (‘Arthur the King’), and star Madelaine Petsch (‘Riverdale’) spoke with Moviefone about their new film, revealing the challenges of filming Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 at the same time. They also tease Maya’s arc and evolution through the next two movies.
Related Article: Renny Harlin Talks ‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ and the Franchise’s Future
‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ Will Explore The Evolution Of Maya From Victim To Final Girl
‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ Panel At San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
Producer Courtney Solomon discusses how Maya will evolve through the next two chapters, explaining that we have seen her as a victim, and she is going to become so much more than that.
Courtney Solomon: We did ‘Chapter One’ for the reason we did ‘Chapter One’. It is what it is and she is a victim. But what if, unlike a normal final girl, where in act one of the movie, suddenly they’re killing everybody. Is that really real? I’m not saying it’s not fun. I love those movies. Don’t get me wrong. But what we were trying to do is say, how long would that really take? So let’s just make her a victim in the first movie. Even then, a normal person goes to kill another person, even to defend themselves. How easy is that transition in real life? If you lined up 100 people, how many would really do it? How many would really have the guts to pick up a knife and stab you in the chest and kill you? So actually, we’re deep in character in chapter two and chapter three. You’re seeing somebody that by the end of this thing, and also just for how disturbing the original Strangers was, Chapter two is intense as hell, but it’s a bridge. Chapter three is really disturbing and twisted in a really good way.
Madelaine Petsch Filled A Binder with Notes To Stay On Track While Filming
‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ Panel At San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
Madelaine Petsch admits that the most challenging part of filming one large movie, that is being released in three parts, at the same time, was trying to keep everything straight. They did not film back-to-back, but rather one on top of each other.
Madelaine Petsch: Honestly, making sure I understand where I am in the story. But the minute I walked into it being one long film, one insatiably long film, I was able to really understand how to break down the character. But it was really about making sure that I was constantly in the right development and right stage of her at all times. So I had like probably 150 pages of notes. And that’s me being conservative. I brought a thick binder to set every day. That was like, OK, today we’re shooting scene two from movie three. Let me go back and look at what happened. I had all these notes of everything that was going on so I could always make sure I knew I was informed by the decisions she’d made previously, but also did not know what was coming next.
Director Renny Harlin Was Thrilled To Expand The Lore Of The Strangers
‘The Strangers – Chapter 2’ Panel At San Diego Comic-Con International 2025 at San Diego Convention Center on July 24, 2025 in San Diego, California. Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Lionsgate.
Getting to expand on the lore of the Strangers is something that Director Renny Harlin was most excited to explore.
Renny Harlin: We wanted to make a four and a half hour movie that is broken into three chapters that really in an extraordinary way gets to explore, first of all, the victim and what happens to a person who gets brutally attacked like this and how far can they go until they snap. And then also to explore the strangers in this case and not to tell the audience everything about them and give reasons like, oh, why are they doing this? Because serial killers, they are random killers. They don’t do it for revenge or any normal reason like that. But to be able to expand all these things was just a fantastic opportunity.
(L to R) Renny Harlin, Madelaine Petsch and Courtney Solomon at San Diego Comic-Con 2025.
List of Renny Harlin Movies:
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by admin | Jul 25, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
The long-awaited sequel to 1996’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ entitled ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ which once again stars Adam Sandler as the pro hockey player turned PGA tour golfer, premieres July 25th on Netflix.
The movie also welcomes back original cast members Julie Bowen, Ben Stiller, and Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin, as well as new recruits Benny Safdie (‘Oppenheimer’), Bad Bunny (‘Bullet Train’), Margaret Qualley (‘The Substance’), and Haley Joel Osment (‘The Sixth Sense’) and was directed by Kyle Newacheck (‘Murder Mystery’).
Related Article: Director Kyle Newacheck Talks ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Starring Adam Sandler
Initial Thoughts
Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’, the long-awaited sequel to the classic 1996 Adam Sandler film is a funny and satisfying follow up for fans, although it does rely heavy on nostalgia for the original. Sandler successfully returns to one of his most iconic roles, and while the character has grown since the first film, he’s still as funny and unpredictable as ever.
Christopher McDonald also triumphantly returns as Happy’s rival, Shooter McGavin, and his onscreen chemistry with Sandler is one of the highlights of the movie. The story is strong and mostly works but takes a little time to get going and drags a bit in the third act, and when focusing too much on subplots that don’t affect the main story. But fans of the original or Sandler’s work in general will be very “Happy” with the new sequel for the most part.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore and Rory McIlroy as himself on the set of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2025.
The film begins by catching us up on Happy Gilmore’s (Adam Sandler) life since the original movie, and we learn that he went on to win the PGA tour, marry Virginia (Julie Bowen), have five children, and become a golf legend. But after Happy experiences a personal tragedy in his own life, he loses his grandmother’s house, turns to alcohol, quits golf forever, and must raise his children on his own.
Now, 30 years later, his four sons are all grown up (and have their father’s anger issues), and Happy is living with his teenage daughter Vienna (Sunny Sandler), who wants to go to an expensive dance school in Paris that he can’t afford. Gilmore is soon approached by a billionaire (Benny Safdie) who wants to start an extreme golfing league to rival the PGA and wants to recruit Happy. While Happy refuses, it does inspire him to return to professional golfing, but he soon finds that he is a bit rusty on the course.
Eventually, along with his new caddy Oscar (Bad Bunny), Happy joins a tournament between the PGA and the extreme golfing league, where the losing league will be disbanded forever. To make matters worse, while Happy is dealing with his own alcoholism and his new extreme golfing rival played by Haley Joel Osment, his old rival, Shooter McGavin (Christopher McDonald) returns from a long time away and wants his revenge. Now, Happy must fight his own demons, new rivals and old, and win the tournament to save golf and earn enough money to get his grandmother’s house back and send his daughter to dance school.
‘Happy Gilmore 2’ director Kyle Newacheck.
The script by Tim Herlihy and Sandler works exceedingly well, even though it relies heavily on nostalgia for the first movie. The script allows a lot of growth for the title character, while never losing the anger and intensity Happy had in the original. This is an older and slightly wiser version of the character, and it fits Sandler well. The rival extreme golf league plot was very clever, even if it loses its some of its steam towards the end, but the sub-plot featuring Ben Stiller didn’t work for me at all.
Kyle Newcheck who worked with Sandler on ‘Murder Mystery’ takes over director duties from Dennis Dugan, who still returns as Doug Thompson from the first movie. Newcheck does a very good job with the pacing, direction and style of the movie. While it does feel like a proper sequel, it also has a very modern vibe with great music that works well in 2025.
There are many great cameos and Easter eggs from the first movie, and they all work, even if Newcheck might go to the well one too many times. The director also gets very good performances out of non-actors like golfers John Daly and Rory McIlroy, Football player Travis Kelce, and sportscaster Stephen A. Smith, and even incorporates social media personalities like Alix Earle.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin and Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
In recent years Adam Sandler has given some very good dramatic performances in films like ‘Uncut Gems’, ‘Hustle’, and ‘Spaceman’, but returns to comedic form in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. In fact, I would go as far to say that Sandler’s dramatic work has made his comedic skills even stronger. Sandler is terrific as the older, down on his luck Happy, and is very believable in both the comedic and dramatic moments of the film.
But it wouldn’t be a “Happy Gilmore’ movie without Shooter McGavin played by the great Christopher McDonald. This is easily the actor’s signature role, and he is a force of nature in this sequel. He has fantastic chemistry with Sandler and seeing them together is one of the strongest elements of the film. I won’t say too much about his storyline, but it is very believable to the character from the first film and very funny.
Julie Bowen also returns as Happy’s now wife Virginia, and without revealing spoilers, I’ll just say that it’s unfortunate that the way the storyline unfolds that it does not give the actress more to do. Ben Stiller also returns as Hal L. and has a bigger role than in the first film. But his character is not my favorite, and I found his story arc to be unnecessary.
Ben Stiller as Hal L. in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
Joining the cast is musician Bad Bunny, who gives a shockingly funny performance as Happy’s new caddy Oscar and has a very relaxed and fun chemistry with Sandler. Actress Sunny Sandler, Adam’s daughter, also joins the cast as Happy’s daughter, Vienna, and gives a sweet and emotional performance.
Finally, I was very impressed with the performances from non-actors like golfer John Daly, who plays a version of himself living in Happy’s garage. There are also a few unforgettable cameos, which we won’t spoil here.
Final Thoughts
Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2024.
As far as legacy sequels go, especially with comedies, ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ is a very funny and compelling film. Adam Sandler brings energy, passion, emotion and a lot of humor to his character, and Christopher McDonald is fantastic as Shooter, and it’s a joy to see the two actors together again. While the movie does lean heavy on your nostalgia for the original, it still feels fresh and like a reunion with some old friends.
What’s the plot of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’?
Thirty years after winning his first Tour Championship, retired golfer Happy Gilmore returns to the sport to pay for his daughter Vienna’s ballet school.
Who is in the cast of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’?
- Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore
- Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit
- Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin
- Bad Bunny as Oscar
- Ben Stiller as Hal L.
- Dennis Dugan as Doug Thompson
- Kevin Nealon as Gary Potter
- Sunny Sandler as Vienna Gilmore
- Kym Whitley as Bessie
(L to R) Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore and John Daly as Himself in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2025.
List of Adam Sandler Sports Movies:
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by admin | Jul 24, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
Peter Dinklage as “Toxie” in the action, comedy, horror film, ‘The Toxic Avenger’, a Cineverse release. Photo courtesy of Yana Blajeva/Legendary Pictures.
Preview:
- ‘The Toxic Avenger’ landed at this year’s Comic-Con.
- Director Macon Blair and star Peter Dinklage talked the movie up.
- Fans were also treated to footage.
It has taken a few years for the latest version of classic Troma character ‘The Toxic Avenger’ to make it to screens, but what better place than the San Diego Comic-Con for writer/director Macon Blair, star Peter Dinklage and other cast members to hype it up at a raucous panel?
“The hero we need now.”
Showtimes & Tickets
When a downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze, is exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident, he’s transformed into a new kind of hero: The Toxic Avenger. Now, Toxie… Read the Plot
Not appearing in person, but certainly there in spirit (and via video) was Kevin Bacon, who even broke into song at one point.
“Stayin’ at home going to make you blue / You need the movies and the movies need you,” Bacon sang. “Down to the theater, try your luck / ‘Toxic Avenger,’ show the f**k up.”
Related Article: Peter Dinklage is the Mutated Hero in the First Image of New ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Movie
What’s the story of ‘The Toxic Avenger’?
When a downtrodden janitor, Winston Gooze (Dinklage), is exposed to a catastrophic toxic accident, he’s transformed into a new kind of hero: The Toxic Avenger.
Now, Toxie must rise from outcast to savior, taking on ruthless corporate overlords and corrupt forces who threaten his son, his friends, and his community. In a world where greed runs rampant… justice is best served radioactive.
Lloyd Kaufman on ‘The Toxic Avenger’s history
Troma boss Lloyd Kaufman at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for ‘The Toxic Avenger’, in July 2025.
Lloyd Kaufman, the boss of Troma studios, who created the original Toxie (for 1984’s movie), talked about the challenges of battling censors over what was allowed.
He recalled that the MPAA forced the company to cut 20 minutes from the original. But, as he reveals:
“Eventually, people were able to get the director’s cut with the full head-crushing.”
That film spawned a franchise and a cult following –– and now, has led to this brand-new take, which Kaufman happily supports.
This was his comment on the new movie:
“It’s everything we tried and didn’t quite get there”
‘The Toxic Avenger’: the director and stars talk
Writer/director Macon Blair at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for ‘The Toxic Avenger’, in July 2025.
Director Macon Blair and the cast were overjoyed to be anticipating the movie’s release after worrying that it might not see screens at all.
Blair said he wanted to capture the spirit of the original film without matching its plot beat-for-beat, so he knew the violence had to have the goopy goodness you expect but he also wanted to match what he saw as the warm-hearted nature of the first film.
For Dinklage, his first exposure to Toxie was via a Betamax video at a friend’s house, joking that “there’s always an older brother!” He was persuaded to take on the role because of his appreciation for Blair’s filmmaking style and the environmental message of the movie.
And he revealed that more than 70% of his performance “over 70% of my performance” is down to actor Luisa Guerreiro, who wore the full-body suit and makeup once Winston is transformed into the Toxic Avenger.
Here’s what Dinklage had to say:
“That was a real exercise in trust, in relinquishing something that was important to me. She does a better me than I do of me.”
Peter Dinklage at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for ‘The Toxic Avenger’, in July 2025.
Elijah Wood, a huge fan of horror –– who has starred in and produced his fair share of the genre –– plays one of the new movie’s villains.
He admitted e loved how this ‘Toxic Avenger’ is filled to the brim with ideas and fun and playing with the medium. But he singled out the father-son story between Dinklage and Jacob Tremblay’s characters as central to the charm of the movie.
Finally, Blair discussed what had been added to the movie since its premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023. But he had to somewhat talk around it for the family-friendly panel requirements:
“We added really just one VFX shot. I believe this is an all-ages crowd. It involves a depiction of a body part and that’s going to be added for theatrical release. I think you’ll notice it.”
When will ‘The Toxic Avenger’ be in theaters?
Toxie will be creating vengeful havoc on big screens from August 29th.
‘The Toxic Avenger’ opens in theaters on August 29th.
Movies Featuring The Toxic Avenger:
Buy The Toxic Avenger Movies and TV on Amazon
