MAD MAX: FURIOSA Is A Prequel, Won’t Star Charlize Theron
Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of George Miller's MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, known in this household as THE GREATEST GODDAMN MOVIE OF ALL TIME. Folks have been celebrating the occasion, with Charlize Theron posting a number of behind-the-scenes images to Twitter and the New York Times running a truly outstanding oral history on the making of the film, and amidst all the hullabaloo we've learned a few new details about the next MAD MAX film - which is, as expected, centered around Theron's iconic Furiosa.
Ah, but there's a catch: Theron will not be back for this adventure, which will operate as a prequel to the events of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Here's Miller explaining why in that New York Times piece:
“For the longest time, I thought we could just use CG de-aging on Charlize, but I don’t think we’re nearly there yet. Despite the valiant attempts on The Irishman, I think there’s still an uncanny valley. Everyone is on the verge of solving it, particular Japanese video-game designers, but there’s still a pretty wide valley, I believe.”
On the one hand, it's a bummer that Theron won't be back for another go 'round as Furiosa. On the other hand, George Miller can and should do whatever the fuck he wants. It's easy to forget now, but in the lead-up to MAD MAX: FURY ROAD there was quite a bit of handwringing going on about whether or not the MAD MAX franchise could continue without Mel Gibson. Just look at how that turned out.
While we're here, here's a bit of information I'm not sure you'll find anywhere else: while MAD MAX: FURIOSA will not include Mad Max Rockatansky, it appears it may be pairing Furiosa with a different male hero, a "breathtakingly handsome" dude with "an angel's face, scarred by a deep forehead wound stitched together with shiny chrome staples". That guy's name? Dementus. If they hire who I've heard they're interested in for that role, y'all will be most excited.
Nothing further to report at this time, but rest assured that we will continue beating the MAD MAX: FURIOSA drum until that bad boy is in theaters, melting our eyeballs.
