Summary

• Furiosa, the spinoff and prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, focuses on the titular character and explores her backstory before the events of the original film. Max Rockatansky does not seem to play a part in the spinoff, offering the franchise a chance to move in a new direction.
• Anya Taylor-Joy leads the star-studded cast and plays Furiosa, forced to work for a powerful warlord after being kidnapped during the post-apocalypse. Taylor-Joy is an incredibly talented actress known for her roles in films like The Witch and The Queen's Gambit.
• Chris Hemsworth portrays Warlord Dementus, one of the film's antagonists. He is a violent, insane, and brutal character with a manipulative charisma. Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson, Daniel Weber, and Lachy Hulme also join the cast in undisclosed roles, adding to the anticipation for Furiosa.

A spinoff and prequel to the wildly popular post-apocalyptic movie Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa boasts a star-studded cast including Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. Coming from legendary Australian director George Miller, the film focuses on the titular character and explores her backstory before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road. Unlike the previous installments in the Mad Max franchise, Max Rockatansky does not seem to play a part in the spinoff prequel, and he certainly won't be the focus, with Furiosa taking center stage. With a new character claiming the focus, the plot of Furiosa offers the Mad Max franchise a chance to move in an entirely new direction.

At CCXP 2023, the first trailer for the Furiosa movie added to the interest already drummed up for the film by its major casting announcements. Anya Taylor-Joy has long been attached to the project in the role originated by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road, only worsening Mad Max and Furiosa's confusing franchise timeline. That said, the trailer for Furiosa offered interesting first looks at the movie's star-studded cast, despite not all of their roles being clear as yet. With Furiosa set to emulate its predecessors, the main cast will be rather small, yet the characters will all be dynamic and unforgettable denizens of George Miller's imaginative post-apocalyptic landscape.

Anya Taylor-Joy As Imperator Furiosa

Furiosa's younger version is led by an incredibly talented actress in Mad Max: Fury Road's Prequel

Leading the cast of Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy plays the title character, who is forced to work for a powerful warlord after she is kidnapped during the post-apocalypse. Though a relative newcomer to show business, Taylor-Joy has already made a splash with unforgettable parts in films like The Witch where she played the lead role of Thomasin. Anya Taylor-Joy's movie roles also include Emma Woodhouse in Emma, Casey Cooke in the Unbreakable trilogy, and Illyana in The New Mutants, and she voiced Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Her most famous and most acclaimed role, however, came in the Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit where she played Beth Harmon.

Chris Hemsworth As Warlord Dementus

The Thor actor trades lightning and thunder for gasoline and fire.

Noted Australian action star Chris Hemsworth will play one of Furiosa's antagonists, Warlord Dementus. Best known for playing the character of Thor in many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, including The Avengers and Thor: Ragnarok, Hemsworth also played the notable role of the titular Huntsman in Snow White and the Huntsman and portrayed driver James Hunt in the racing biopic Rush. Often cast in action-oriented roles, Hemsworth also appeared as George Kirk in 2009's Star Trek and played Tyler Rake in Extraction and its sequel.

As confirmed by Furiosa's first trailer and the film's panel at CCXP 2023, Hemsworth will play Warlord Dementus. The character is confirmed as the leader of a Biker Horde who kidnap Furiosa before coming across the Citadel led by Immortan Joe. As the two warlords battle for supremacy, Furiosa attempts to escape and return home. Describing his character (via Variety), Hemsworth stated:

“He’s a complicated individual. He’s a very violent, insane, brutal person that is born from the Wasteland, which is the world the ‘Mad Max’ saga takes place in. He’s a product of his environment. He has been birthed into a space where it’s kill or be killed. He’s learned to rule with an iron fist. There’s a charisma to him and it’s a very manipulative charisma.”

Tom Burke In An Unknown Role

Could Burke bring Immortan Joe to life in a time before Mad Mad: Fury Road?

Character actor Tom Burke will play another undisclosed character in Furiosa, though the casting hints at Burke playing Immortan Joe, the villain of Mad Max: Fury Road (previously portrayed by Hugh Keays-Byrne). Burke has put his immersive character acting skills to good use in movies like Mank when he portrayed legendary filmmaker Orson Welles, and he played smaller roles like Will Byrne in Netflix's The Wonder. The first trailer for Furiosa did not feature a clear shot of Burke, though Immortan Joe was highlighted multiple times, furthering the likelihood of Burke playing the villainous Mad Max character.

Nathan Jones As Rictus Erectus

The brutish son of Immortan Joe returns for more Mad Max mayhem.

Among the few named characters in Furiosa so far, the towering Australian former professional wrestler Nathan Jones reprises his role as Rictus Eructus, Immortan Joe's villainous son who first appeared in Mad Max: Fury Road. Best known for his stunt work, and for playing large goons, Jones appeared in the ill-fated 2011 Conan the Barbarian reboot as Akhun. Jones also put his combat sports experience to good use when he played the role of T.K. in The Protector and as Hercules O'Brien in Fearless.

Angus Sampson As The Organic Mechanic

The Citadel's "doctor" returns for Furiosa's prequel story.

Though Furiosa takes place earlier in the Mad Max timeline, Angus Sampson is returning to the franchise's cast to reprise his role as the Organic Mechanic, a twisted doctor who treats patients in the wasteland. Besides his turn as Tucker in Insidious and Insidious 2, the Australian actor is best known for his recurring role as Dennis in the TV series The Lincoln Lawyer. Sampson also appeared in nine episodes of season 2 of the Fargo TV show as Bear Gerhardt.

Daniel Weber As War Boy

The War Boy's continue to live up to their name in Furiosa's brutal world.

Daniel Weber appears in the cast of Furiosa as War Boy, a character who has yet to be fully revealed. Outside of his many roles as a stunt actor, Weber also has played a few notable characters on television, including his turn as Mötley Crüe lead singer Vince Neil in the Netflix rock biopic The Dirt. Weber also played Jesse Evens in six episodes of the series Billy the Kid, but he truly stood out with his turn as Lee Harvey Oswald in the frightening Stephen King adaptation series 11.22.63.

More of these vague or unknown roles for Furiosa will be confirmed moving closer to the film's May 2024 release date.

Lachy Hulme In An Unknown Role

Which Furiosa role will Hulme be confirmed for closer to the film's release?

Prolific Australian actor Lachy Hulme will appear as part of the cast of Furiosa, and considering his impressive resume, he will most likely play a character of importance. Though he is most known in his native country for roles like Dr. Clegg on Offspring, Hulme also played parts in Hollywood projects such as his turn as Sparks in The Matrix Revolutions. Hulme previously worked with director George Miller when he played the role of Sultan Suleiman in Three Thousand Years of Longing, reuniting with the director for 2024’s Furiosa prequel.

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  Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

  Summary:

  The origin story of renegade warrior Furiosa before she teamed up with Mad Max in Mad Max: Fury Road.

  Release Date:

  2024-05-24

  Cast:

  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Chris Hemsworth, Anya Taylor-Joy

  Director:

  George Miller

  Genres:

  Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action

  Writers:

  George Miller, Nick Lathouris

  Budget:

  168 million

  Studio(s):

  Warner Bros. Pictures

  Distributor(s):

  Warner Bros. Pictures

  Franchise(s):

  Mad Max

  Sequel(s):

  Mad Max: Fury Road