Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a post-apocalyptic, action and adventure film produced and directed by George Miller, who co-wrote the script with Nico Lathouris. The film acts as a spin-off and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), and is also the fifth film in the Mad Max franchise. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the main character Imperator Furiosa, with Chris Hemsworth also starring.

In March 2020, Miller auditioned for the lead role. In October, Taylor-Joy, Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II were cast, but due to scheduling conflicts, Abdul-Mateen dropped out and was replaced by Burke in November. Several crew members from Fury Road returned for the film, including screenwriter Lathouris, film editor Margaret Sixel, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and music composer Tom Holkenborg. Filming took place in Australia from June to October 2022.

Produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Furiosa is scheduled to be released in Australian cinemas on May 23, 2024 and in the United States on May 24, 2024.

Premise

When the world fell, young Furiosa was snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and fell into the hands of the Biker Gang led by Warlord Dementus. While the two Tyrants battle for dominance over the Citadel, Furiosa survives many trials as she plots her way home through the Wasteland.[1]

Cast

• Anya Taylor-Joy as Imperator Furiosa
• Chris Hemsworth as Dementus
• Tom Burke as Pretorian Jack
• Alyla Browne
• Nathan Jones as Rictus Erectus
• Angus Sampson as The Organic Mechanic
• Quaden Bayles
• Daniel Webber as War Boy
• Lachy Hulme

A younger version of Immortan Joe, previously played by Hugh Keays-Byrne in Mad Max: Fury Road, will appear in the film.

Production

Cast development and selection

In March 2020, Variety reported that George Miller used Skype to audition for the lead role in Furiosa, a spin-off of the film Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) about the character Imperator Furiosa. Anya Taylor-Joy is one candidate.[2] In October, the film was further developed, with Taylor-Joy confirmed to play the title character, and Chris Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II also cast to star. Several of the Fury Road crew returned for the film, including film editor Margaret Sixel, production designer Colin Gibson, sound mixer Ben Osmo, and make-up designer Lesley Vanderwalt.[3]

In February 2021, composer Junkie XL, who previously composed Fury Road, confirmed that he would return for Furiosa.[4] Jenny Beavan also returns as costume designer.[5] Miller then cast Taylor-Joy in the lead role after seeing her performance in an early cut of Last Night in Soho and for her audition, Miller gave the "Mad as Hell" monologue from Sidney Lumet's film Network.[6][7] He was paid $1.8 million for his involvement.[8] Due to work schedule conflicts, Abdul-Mateen left the film project in November, with Tom Burke chosen to replace him.[9]

In January 2022, it was reported that Simon Duggan would serve as cinematographer.[10] In June 2022, it was reported that Nathan Jones and Angus Sampson would reprise their roles from Fury Road.[11] In August, Quaden Bayles, who worked on Miller's film Three Thousand Years of Longing, after a video of his mistreatment at school went viral, was announced to appear in and have a small role in Furiosa.[12]

The film received AU$175 million in incentives,[13] and cost a total of US$233 million (AU$343.2 million) in Australia, the most for a film produced there.[14]

Filming

Furiosa was filmed in two towns in the state of New South Wales, Hay (left) and Silverton (right), which are often referred to as ghost towns,[15] despite having a population of only 26 residents.

After multiple different dates were reported for the start of filming, Deadline confirmed in a May 2022 interview with Miller that second unit filming was underway in Australia in advance of principal photography.[16] In May 2022, second unit filming moved to Hay with more scheduled to take place in Silverton.[17] Principal photography began on 1 June 2022, in Australia, and was expected to wrap by September.[18][19] Filming officially wrapped on November 3, 2022.[20]

Release

Furiosa is scheduled for wide release in Australia on May 23, 2024, and in the United States on May 24, 2024, by Warner Bros. Pictures.[21] Previously scheduled for release on June 23, 2023