November 17, 2009 | by Niall Browne 

Mel Gibson Talks Mad Max 4

mel-gibson-maxUp until now the only people discussing Mad Max: Fury Road have been director George Miller and online film writers (like myself) who have been following the development of the sci-fi sequel.

It looks like original star Mel Gibson won’t be returning to portray Max for a fourth time (he’ll apparently hand over the reins to British actor Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron)  but that doesn’t seem to worry the outspoken star. Having said that, Gibson is less than forthcoming with details about his (lack of?) involvement in the film.

Gibson was interviewed by Australia’s Herald Sun about the recently released Blu-ray of his Oscar-winning epic Braveheart and talk turned to his participation in Mad Max 4.

Gibson said:

”I was just talking with George (Miller, Mad Max director) the other day, he dropped me a line, so you kind of keep in touch with them and see what they’re up to. It’s not an obsession of mine. I figure if it’s great, you’ll end up seeing it, you know.”

The interviewer then pressed Gibson about his involvement in Fury Road – Gibson replied:

”Oh gosh, I don’t know what he’s up to…Not with me, I don’t think, man, I’m a bit old and long in the tooth for that number. You need somebody who can get around a bit quicker.”

The writer of the article adds that when Gibson said that he didn’t know what Miller was up to he said it “a little unconvincingly”. It’s also interesting to note that Mad Mel also says “Not with me, I don’t think”. That’s not a denial and it’s awfully similar to when George Miller said:

“It could be Mel, it could be anyone.”

Does this mean that Gibson will have a cameo in the film?  Might Hardy be playing Gibson’s sidekick or the bad guy? Or maybe Miller and company are using smoke and mirrors to conceal Gibson’s involvement in the film up until when it starts shooting next summer.

What do you guys think?

More on Mad Max 4 when we get it.

Source: Herald Sun

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  • Lord Garth, Formerly of Izar
    If Mel is not in the film as Max I will not watch it
  • SK-47
    If it is all smoke and mirrors, they are doing a great job at it. Mel has to be involved somehow.
  • Gary
    The irony is if he had given a flat denial,
    There would still be MANY who would not believe it .
    Hasent Tom Hardy been cast since Miller made his"it could be anyone" quote?
  • ogb
    I'm with Garth on this one

    Mel IS Mad Max. The reason Mad Max has such a following is mostly due to Mel Gibson. Why can't they realize that? Are his recent troubles getting in the way of a potential good movie?

    Write a story around Mad Max getting older. Why does everything have to be "new and hip"?

    It's so frustrating watching all these great franchises of my childhood/youth getting crapped on for the sake of money and notoriety.
  • Josh Rose
    ogb,

    I understand where you're coming from, but the circumstances are a little different here. Yeah, Gibson is Mad Max, and its disappointing that he won't be involved, but it's not like the studio is just trying to capitalize on the name recognition for the hell of it.

    George Miller, the writer/director of the entirely trilogy, is the one trying to make another film. I have faith that he can still make a great movie even without Mel.

    This isn't like, say, Terminator 3. Yeah, the Terminator is Arnold, but without Cameron at the helm the movie was just missing that spark that the first two had.

    I'd be much more worried about this movie if Gibson was involved and Miller was not, or if neither of them was involved.
  • Jason
    Isn't the entire point of Mad Max the fact that it's Mel Gibson? Sort of like Kurt Russell is Snake Plissken and Bruce Willis is John McClane. To have another actor in that role would defeat the point of a Mad Max film.
  • ogb
    Jason

    Amen
  • ogb
    Josh

    Good points all around.

    But I'd say Mel plays a much bigger role in reviving the franchise. He's the face of Mad Max. The director is great, sure, but the 3rd movie wasn't exactly a winner. So who knows?
  • Chris
    Absolutely right on. As much as I love the Mad Max series, if Mel isn't Max, I won't watch it.
  • El Diablo
    If Harrison Ford can still pull off Indiana Jones, Mel can reprise his roll as Mad Max.
  • KantStandYa
    @el diablo u r absolutley right i would love mel to come back i mean his screen presence is amazing and as max agian on screen i cant think of anywhere else he should be. This movie would work great with a old more beatup asskicken max. I mean his face alone makes the movie i cant see it being a madmax movie with out mel. some heroes u can replace with reboots but not this one, bc it just wouldnt fit. and i dont get his comment when he says "you need some one who can egt around a bit quicker" is it just me but max didnt do that much cardio in mad max more drivin and walkin with a cool lookin dog.He dosent need to be really that fit right?
  • jwalka
    i think they should make mel and old worn out guy in the movie as a cameo.
    they could have someone young that looks similar to him and the story could follow this "new guy".

    he said it himself "im getting a bit old", i doubt he'll be playing in the whole movie maybe just some of it
  • 790
    I would have Mel's cameo right at the start of the film.

    :[Desert Exterior] Max (crawls out from the intense heat, overgrown with a massive two tone moses beard.)
    ^
    Max, "It was the jews, the jews!"
    ^
    [Desert Exterior]
    (He then farts and collapses dead.)

    [camera pans up across the desert,,,^
    Helicopter cam,,,)
    ^
    Opening Titles!
    (Mad Max 4, etc)
    ^
    And then the film starts,,, ;-)
  • Bob
    No Mel Gibson= no Mad Max.
  • He's bound to have a cameo, new character is bound to be his son.
  • daviedave47
    You know who should be in the film? Tina Turner. So what if her character was kind of a once-off character ("Aunt Entity")...SHE MUST be in this next one, as well.

    Of course...I say all of this in jest...but "Thunderdome" was a decent chapter of the Mad Max series. "Mad Mel's" fight scene in the Dome against "Blaster" was pretty darn cool.
  • Sock Monkey
    I personally think that Jeremy Renner would've made a good substitute to Mel for Mad Max. He's got the attitude, the build, and as far as I know, he's available for casting.
  • marinamiz
    MAD or not, Mel Gibson is the one and the only MAX !!!
  • SK-47
    Tom Hardy is a good actor.
    Jeremy Renner is also good actor.
    But, Jason has made the best comment. Preach on my brother!

    Personally with action stars getting older I would like to see how their characters in an elderly age overcome adversity and their inability to save the day. Why can't they just go with that idea?
    Stallone did it well for Rocky 6.
    "Can the old guy still go the distance?"
    And in the this,
    "Can the Warrior Max still be the king of the road?"
  • Robyn2
    I suggested in one of my earlier posts(when the cast of Mad Max 4 was anounced) that Mel should be playing
    a role of a mentor to a new, younger guy. That way it would make sense regarding transitioning the story/character.
    "The Road Warrior" was the best of all 3 movies, "Thunderdome" was the worst (all that stuff with the kids, captain Walker etc. - boooring!) and no offence to Tina Turner but she is no actress.

    No Mel = No Mad Max
  • Dr Thriller
    I think it means exactly what it says- Mel doesn't know what he's up to and he doesn't think that even if he was to be included in the script he wouldn't physically be able to do it.
  • What?!? No Mel Gibson For Mad Max 4?!?

    If Harrison Ford can get dusted off to play Indiana Jones 4 then sure as Hell Mel can be Max again! Do it for us ... do it for your fans!

    We want Mel as MAX ! WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO!!!!
  • Harry
    Here in Sydney, rumours are everywhere as to who actually will get to be Max.
    A close friend of mine, who happens to be a well known Aussie actor, had his agent submit him for the role of Max over a year ago, only to be told that the role was reserved for a particular actor the studio was wanting.
    Up to this point, actors are still submitting for the Max role and getting the same response, yet the role is not yet cast.
    All of the actors linked to being cast as Max this last year like Steve Innes, Tom Hardy, Sam Worthington, Eric Bana and all the others are not and will not be Max.
    That's not to say they won't be in the film in some capacity but not as Max.
    Speculation is now rife that it may in fact be Mel Gibson, given the fact he is coming to Australia early next year to do a film in Perth, which would wrap just in time to commence on Mad Max 4 in August.
    Out of interest, Steve Innes, one of the first Aussie actors to be reported to be cast as Max, is said to be involved in Gibsons film in Perth also but there is little or nothing more than that reported.
    It seems to be starting to add up.
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