You really have to shake your head in utter disbelief when you realize that this world is going to be graced with the presence of a remake of “The Toxic Avenger” starring Peter Dinklage. That’s just a situation no one could have ever imagined. And yet, not only is that a reality, we also have our first teaser for the R-rated mayhem. 

READ MORE: ‘Gen V’ Review: Amazon’s Super-Youth Rebellion Stalls Over Franchise Demands

The teaser for the upcoming ‘Toxic Avenger’ remake is heavy on the tease.

Continue reading ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Red Band Teaser: Peter Dinklage Is A Brutal Hero In Macon Blair’s Gory Superhero Film at The Playlist.

Legendary Entertainment has tasked Macon Blair to write and direct a reboot of the Troma Entertainment satirical superhero character “The Toxic Avenger,” the Lylod Kaufman-led studio that helped launch the career of director James Gunn (“The Suicide Squad,” “The Guardians of The Galaxy“) and is known for cheaply-made shock genre filmmaking. 

READ MORE: Filmmaker Macon Blair To Write & Direct ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

Originally released in 1984, the superhero parody film focused on a scrawny janitor named Melvin, who is thrown into a batch of radioactive toxic sludge by a group of bullies only to be transformed into the hulking disfigured tutu-wearing vigilante brute known as the Toxic Avenger.

Continue reading ‘Toxic Avenger’: Legendary’s Satirical Superhero Remake Adds Kevin Bacon & Elijah Wood at The Playlist.

When you think of superhero IP that has yet to be remade or rebooted as a modern franchise, you probably won’t immediately think about “The Toxic Avenger” as the next big thing. Well, Legendary Pictures, the studio that just showed us a giant lizard fighting a huge ape in “Godzilla vs. Kong,” is set to do a modern remake of 1984’s low-budget, cult classic, R-rated superhero film, “The Toxic Avenger.” And while we have known that Peter Dinklage is set to star in the new film, it appears that writer-director Macon Blair is ready to add another name to the cast list.

Continue reading Jacob Tremblay To Star Opposite Peter Dinklage In Macon Blair’s ‘Toxic Avenger’ Remake at The Playlist.

Even though anyone familiar with the original “Toxic Avenger” film from 1984 would find it strange that a studio is interested in rebooting the franchise, the allure of a superhero IP that hasn’t been mined is too strong for Hollywood to pass up. So, it was announced more than a year ago that “The Toxic Avenger” is getting remade. And as strange as that is, you’ll never guess who’s going to star in the film.

Continue reading ‘The Toxic Avenger’: Peter Dinklage To Star In Macon Blair’s Reboot Of The Subversive Superhero Film at The Playlist.

Macon Blair is one of the most underrated filmmakers and actors working today. After starring in films such as “Green Room” and “Blue Ruin,” both directed beautifully by Jeremy Saulnier, Blair went on to write the films “Small Crimes,” “Hold the Dark,” and “I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore.” The latter of which also serves as his directorial debut.

Continue reading Josh Brolin & Peter Dinklage To Star In ‘Twins’-Esque Comedy Written & Directed By Macon Blair at The Playlist.

Macon Blair is one of the more interesting up-and-coming filmmakers. After appearing in Jeremy Saulnier’s films “Blue Ruin” and “Green Room,” and writing “Hold the Dark,” the actor-turned-filmmaker went on to write and direct his own feature, “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.” And if you take those four films as examples, it’s really difficult to pin down just what Blair’s sensibilities are, except to say that he loves taking genres and injecting his own, decidedly, fucked up style.

Continue reading Filmmaker Macon Blair To Write & Direct ‘The Toxic Avenger’ Reboot at The Playlist.

On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe and I eschew the theatrical route for a discussion on two recent high profile Netflix releases. With the streaming service’s current release mode set to full-on tidal wave, it can be overwhelming just thinking about what to watch and even keeping up on what’s new and worth your time. Hopefully, we can be of service, as both items on this show’s talk sheet are worth your time.

Continue reading Auteurs On Netflix: ‘Maniac’ & ‘Hold The Dark’ [AYT Podcast] at The Playlist.

If you haven’t seen any films by filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier, then you’re missing out. He’s one of the very best up-and-coming directors around. His 2014 film “Blue Ruin” is a crime-thriller masterpiece and 2016’s “Green Room” was such a dark and nasty neo-Nazi revenge thriller that it felt like an avant-garde horror movie.

READ MORE: Jeremy Saulnier Says Anyone Who Believes His Upcoming Netflix Movie Isn’t A Real Movie Should “Stab Themselves In The Face”

Saulnier’s latest venture into the dark abyss, “Hold the Dark,” has him teaming up with Netflix.

Continue reading Director Jeremy Saulnier Talks ‘Hold The Dark,’ Netflix, & What He Gained From Leaving ‘True Detective’ [Interview] at The Playlist.

In 2015, director Sean Baker showed audiences a little seen world with his low budget indie hit “Tangerine.” Shot on iPhone 5s, the film took audiences to the gritty street corners of Hollywood, California telling the story of one night in the life of transgender sex worker Sin-Dee Rella. Told with both realism and heart, it made Baker a filmmaker to watch. For his next effort, he switched coasts and went to Miami, where he has found another unique story to tell in “The Florida Project.”

Starring Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera, Caleb Landry Jones, Macon Blair, Karren Karagulian, and Sandy Kane, the drama tells the story of six-year-old Moonee, who lives with her mother Halley in a week to week motel.

Continue reading ‘The Florida Project’ Trailer: ‘Tangerine’ Director Sean Baker Finds A Kingdom at The Playlist.

Steven Soderbergh comes out of retirement and returns to the heist-film genre with the debut trailer for “Logan Lucky.” The film stars Channing Tatum and Adam Driver as the Logan Brothers who attempt an elaborate NASCAR robbery.

“It’s an anti-glam version of an ‘Ocean’’s movie,” Soderbergh said about screenwriter Rebecca Blunt’s script, “Nobody dresses nice. Nobody has nice stuff.

Continue reading Steven Soderbergh Can’t Resist The Heist In First Trailer For ‘Logan Lucky’ at The Playlist.

The rise of streaming hasn’t just been a game-changer for audiences, but for filmmakers, as outlets like Netflix and Amazon that reside outside the Hollywood system have provided a new avenue to get their movies made. However, this has led to an ongoing conversation about what it means for the landscape as we’ve known it for decades where, at least in the indie realm, films premiere at festivals, get acquired, open in limited release, and then hopefully find an audience.

Continue reading Joe Swanberg & Macon Blair Explain The Appeal Of Netflix For Indie Filmmakers at The Playlist.

After a much-needed breather from podcasting after a crazy last few months, Joe von Appen and I have gotten back on mic to continue with Adjust Your Tracking. We talk about our absence and looking for meaning again in cinema. A few new titles out there come up, most notably Jordan Peele‘s wonderful box-office hit “Get Out,” and Macon Blair‘s Sundance-winning, already-streaming-on-Netflix, and perfectly titled, “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.” Also, why “The Lobster” is the film of our time.

Continue reading Podcast: Adjust Your Tracking Talks Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ & (Trying) To Make Sense Of Things at The Playlist.

Director E.L. Katz made a strong debut in 2014 with his satisfyingly sickening and slick black comedy, “Cheap Thrills.” For his follow-up, he teamed with “Blue Ruin” star Macon Blair to pen a blood-drenched tale of second chances called “Small Crimes.” Once more, the fearsome filmmaker offers a mean little movie that follows a seemingly ordinary everyman down a road of greed and self-destruction.

Continue reading ‘Cheap Thrills’ Director E.L. Katz Hits A Sophomore Slump With ‘Small Crimes’ [SXSW Review] at The Playlist.

Talk about striking while the iron is hot. Macon Blair, perhaps best known for his roles in his buddy Jeremy Saulnier‘s thrillers “Blue Ruin” and “Green Room,” walked into the Sundance Film Festival in January with his directorial debut, “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.” He went home with the Grand Jury Prize, and by February, the film was on Netflix, where the strong buzz continued.

Continue reading ‘I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore’ Director Macon Blair To Helm ‘The Shitheads’ Starring Luke Wilson & Tracy Morgan at The Playlist.

We’re a week into the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, and, like American democracy, things are starting to wind down. Most of the major movies have premiered, critics have their favorites (and least favorites), and many of the hot-ticket movies have already been snapped up by distributors, with the box-office success of “Manchester By The Sea” fueling a healthy market for sellers. There’s plenty more to come — we’ll be filing more reviews in the days ahead — but we wanted to start to take a view of the festival as a whole.

Continue reading The 30 Breakout Performers & Filmmakers Of The 2017 Sundance Film Festival at The Playlist.

PARK CITY – Melanie Lynskey has been an indie film darling since she first made a global impression in Peter Jackson’s “Heavenly Creatures” over 22 years ago. She’s played all sorts of roles, but she’s never pulled off anything close to the performance she gives in Macon Blair’s bizarre, twist-filled dark comedy “I Don’t Feel At Home In The World Anymore” which was one of four films to open the 2017 Sundance Film Festival Thursday night.

Continue reading Melanie Lynskey Kicks Serious Ass In ‘I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore’ [Sundance Review] at The Playlist.

Tomorrow, the Sundance Film Festival gets underway, and there won’t be one hot minute wasted as slated to screen is one of the buzziest pictures headed to Park City, “I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore.” And Netflix has already snapped up the rights and is giving everyone a first look at what they can expect from the thriller.

Marking the directorial debut of Macon Blair (star of “Blue Ruin” and “Green Room“), the movie stars Melanie Lynskey as a woman who gets robbed, and enlists Elijah Wood for some help in finding the perpetrators.

Continue reading Melanie Lynskey & Elijah Wood Are Vigilantes In First Trailer For ‘I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore’ at The Playlist.

If you’re not already aware, the 2017 Sundance Film Festival is loaded with talent and there’s more to come. The line-up was announced this week and we already marked-up thirteen films you need to pay attention to immediately. But there’s obviously more and today, Sundance has unveiled a new batch of photos from each film.

READ MORE: Pharrell Williams, Jeff Goldblum And More Star In Sundance 2017’s New Frontier Showcases

Highlights include, director/actor Zoe Lister-Jones‘ “Band-Aid” starring Lister-Jones herself, Adam Pally (“Slow Learners”), “Portlandia” star Fred Armisen and many more.

Continue reading Sundance First Looks: Films With Alden Ehrenreich, Melanie Lynskey, Elijah Wood, ‘Moonlight’ Star Trevante Rhodes & More at The Playlist.

Podcast: The Playlist Talks With Jeremy Saulnier & Anton Yelchin About The Punk Rock Thriller 'Green Room'

Continue reading Podcast: The Playlist Talks With Jeremy Saulnier & Anton Yelchin About The Punk Rock Thriller ‘Green Room’ at The Playlist.

Watch: Patrick Stewart Is Ready To Let 'Em Bleed In New Trailer For Jeremy Saulnier's 'Green Room'

Continue reading Watch: Patrick Stewart Is Ready To Let ‘Em Bleed In New Trailer For Jeremy Saulnier’s ‘Green Room’ at The Playlist.

Watch: First Teaser Trailer For Jeremy Saulnier's Punks Vs. Skins Thriller 'Green Room' Starring Patrick Stewart

Continue reading Watch: First Teaser Trailer For Jeremy Saulnier’s Punks Vs. Skins Thriller ‘Green Room’ Starring Patrick Stewart at The Playlist.

'Blue Ruin' And 'Green Room' Director Jeremy Saulnier Will 'Hold The Dark'

Continue reading ‘Blue Ruin’ And ‘Green Room’ Director Jeremy Saulnier Will ‘Hold The Dark’ at The Playlist.