Nearly two years on, and Mad Max: Fury Road still lingers in the minds of cinephiles as a recent highlight in film. No movie, not one in recent history, at least, was full of as much over-the-top spectacle and high octane excitement as the fourth installment of the Mad Max series, which returned after a three-decade absence to wow audiences with incomparable stunt work and unparalleled filmmaking.
From almost the moment Fury Road was introduced to the world, rumors have swirled about the possibility of sequels and prequels to the action-packed epic. There were talks of a film exploring the backstory of Charlize Theron’s (Kubo and the Two Strings) Furiosa, the one-armed heroine who stole the show from Tom Hardy’s (Peaky Blinders) Max, as well as a direct sequel, rumored to be titled Mad Max: The Wasteland, which would reunite Theron and Hardy for another Furiosa-centered story. There’s no word yet on when — or if — either of these projects, or any Mad Max movie, will come to light, but the film’s star is still more than eager.
In a recent interview with The Wrap, Hardy expressed continuing interest in reprising the role of Max Rockatansky, which he inherited from Mel Gibson - who played the character in the original three films. Even without official word on the project, hearing that Max himself is still excited at returning to the post-apocalyptic world envisioned by director George Miller is good news in itself. Asked if the project was still on the table, Hardy said,
“Yeah I believe so! I don’t know when that starts, but I believe that’s in the books. There’s a couple of those floating around. I’m waiting for the call to come. It was so good, man.”
That’s encouraging news for fans who long to dive deeper into the surreal nightmare of Miller’s apocalypse. Even those who scoffed at the idea of Mad Max: Fury Road were quickly won over by the high-paced adventure. The commitment to practical effects was a welcome change in an era of CGI-enhanced cinema, adding a sense of stark realism to the fantastical tale of liberation and car chases.
Even though Hardy had some pretty big shoes to fill — Gibson became a superstar in no small part due to his role in Mad Max, The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome — Hardy brought an intriguing take on the character, updating him perfectly for a new generation of cinema. At this point, it’s hard to envision what the next chapter might look like, but if he’s along for the ride, then we’re all in too.
As to when it might happen, that’s still up in the air. Miller has stated he wants to do two more entries into the franchise, but has also said he had other projects in mind before Mad Max hits screens again. For now, it certainly seems as though the wheels are still in motion for Max — and perhaps Furiosa — to ride together once again.
We’ll keep our eyes out for any Mad Max news and will keep you posted on anything that develops.
Source: The Wrap