'Toxic Avenger' Big-Budget Movie in the Works at Legendary

Mutant superhero Toxie is going mainstream.

Legendary has acquired film rights to Toxic Avenger, the cult classic from indie schlock producing house Troma Entertainment, with the goal of relaunching the property as a full-throated franchise.

Troma founders Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, who directed the 1984 movie, will produce the new film project.

The original pic told the story of a mild-mannered young man named Melvin who becomes a disfigured radioactive hulking mess after falling into a vat of toxic waste. He uses his newfound form to brutally fight bad guys. The movie went on to become Troma's biggest success, launching several sequels and even a children's cartoon. The character is also Troma's mascot. 

Alex Garcia and Jay Ashenfelter will oversee for Legendary.

No writer or filmmaker is currently attached.