Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood are bringing a fresh dose of toxicity to San Diego Comic-Con! On Thursday, July 24, the first day of the convention, the filmmakers behind the much-awaited The Toxic Avenger Unrated (in theaters August 29) treated fans to an early preview of the superhero reboot at the iconic Hall H.
Peter Dinklage Takes on the Iconic Role of Toxie
Dinklage, known for his role as Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones, plays the character Winston Gooze, a janitor who becomes the mutant superhero Toxie after a freak accident involving poisonous waste.
He took the stage alongside co-stars Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, Taylour Paige, Macon Blair (the writer-director), and Lloyd Kaufman (the producer of the original 1984 Toxic Avenger film).
Dinklage, 56, revealed that taking on the role of the “mop-wielding superhero” was an easy yes for him, thanks to a personal hero: Lloyd Kaufman, the creator of the original Toxic Avenger. Dinklage, who hails from New Jersey (where the film is set), shared his excitement for the film’s message on environmental concerns and satire.
“Environmental concerns are an ongoing thing, now more than ever,” Dinklage explained. “The great way to get into that is through satire, through the backdoor, through humor.”
Elijah Wood on His Role
Elijah Wood, 44, who plays Fritz Garbinger in the film, shocked fans with his appearance in the 2023 trailer. The film had its premiere at Fantastic Fest that year but faced delays due to distributor issues. However, the unrated version of the film will be released on August 29 by Cineverse and Iconic Events Releasing.
Elijah Wood described his character as a villainous figure but said the film’s heart lies in its creativity. “There’s a beating heart in there,” Wood shared, “I love the horror genre because of the possibilities. This movie is filled to the brim with ideas, fun, and playing with the medium.”
Cast and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Taylour Paige, 34, who also stars in the movie, joked that the most charming thing about the film was simply, “That I’m in it!” Paige, who is three months postpartum, also humorously mentioned, “I can’t put sentences together.”
Jacob Tremblay, 18, plays Winston’s son, Wade, who has complicated feelings toward his onscreen father. Tremblay shared, “I had to hold it together and just pretend I didn’t absolutely love this guy,” referring to his real-life admiration for Dinklage.
Dinklage returned the compliment, praising the “top-knotch” cast and Luisa Guerreiro, his body double, who performs much of the Toxie character in prosthetics. Dinklage explained, “Over 70% of my performance is not me… [Guerreiro] studied all my movements like a hawk and does a better me than I do.”
The Toxic Avenger Legacy
The original Toxic Avenger movie, released in 1984, starred Mark Torgl and gained a cult following. It later spawned three sequels, a children’s animated TV show, a stage musical, a video game, and even a Marvel comic.
The upcoming The Toxic Avenger Unrated stars Julia Davis, Jonny Coyne, and Kevin Bacon alongside the main cast. It will be released in theaters on August 29.
Comic-Con 2025
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 runs from July 24 to 27.
