From Hobbit to Hero: Elijah Wood’s Unrecognizable Transformation in ’The Toxic Avenger’ Reboot

Elijah Wood is known for his many versatile roles, from Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings to the titular character in Maniac. But his latest role in the upcoming reboot of The Toxic Avenger is perhaps his most unrecognizable yet. In a photo released by Entertainment Weekly, Wood can be seen with dark pieces of hair surrounding a half-balding head, dark eye makeup, and blackened teeth. He is also sporting a disfigured nose and mouth. Wood is playing Fritz Garbinger, a janitor who is transformed into a monstrous superhero after being pushed into a vat of toxic waste. The role is a far cry from the clean-cut characters Wood is known for playing. In the original 1984 film, Melvin Ferd (played by Mark Torgl) is the janitor who is transformed into the Toxic Avenger. However, the new film is making some changes to the story, including making the main character younger and giving him a different name. The Toxic Avenger reboot is being directed by Macon Blair and also stars Peter Dinkl