Theron and Hardy announced as official cast members

[Copwatch]

Brendan spent several years in Australia, co-writing and designing the new Mad Max movie with the original films' director George Miller and creating a follow-up to the animated Happy Feet, titled Fur Brigade.

Fur Brigade

Wait, whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa --

[Justice]

Hollywood pretty boys and girls... Excuse me while I go to the bathroom and barf.

[skinhead]

You guys sure know a lot about the industry here. This points to the fact that you're more than fans of THIS franchise alone, and are paying serious attention to the process. I look forward to the updates as they come in. May I be the first to post 3 cheers for Miller? About fucken time!

HIP HIP...

[Mad_Maximus_88]

I dig Mel Gibson. And yes it would have been great to see him do Fury Road (back in 2003).

But in Miller's own words this new production is going to "raise the bar" and present things we've never seen before in action/stunts.
Its going to be a spectacular new take on the mythology. It's tethered with fully developed game and even an CG animated incarnation and sequels.

Why would you sign Mel now...?
You wouldn't. Why?

1. Mel is going to be too expensive. Maybe $20 million. That means you'd have to make the film for... $80 million. That's not a lot when you are trying to do something that is going to be competing against the $200+ million summer tentpole flicks from Michael Bay.

2. Mel's not keen. He's gotta be physically fit be keen to put himself in harm's way wit the action at a remote Australian location for 30 weeks.
Why? Well he doesn't need the money. He doesn't need the acting gig. He's got a new relationship with new child. Why? I can't think of a single reason.

3. WARNER will want sequels and will only sign off on a star that will sign onto sequels - and cheaply (think about The TWILIGHT deal).
The Hollywood model at the moment is more interested in lowering costs and creating new stars with franchise re-inventions and unknowns - think Daniel Craig / Christian Bale and the entire STAR TREK crew.

FINALLY ...this film which has been in active development for an unprecedented 10 years. - It was crafted first as a storyboard and then cut into an animatic before the script was even written...I'm guessing its going to be pretty special.

It won't need Mel's star to make it live again.

Just the first trailer in 3D iMax...

[biolumen]

All good points, to be sure. Allow me to retort.

1. Mel is going to be too expensive. Maybe $20 million. That means you'd have to make the film for... $80 million. That's not a lot when you are trying to do something that is going to be competing against the $200+ million summer tentpole flicks from Michael Bay.

Assuming the budget is really $100 million, then it's being made with the same amount of money the 2003 version was budgeted at. Back then, Mel was being paid $25 million and, I believe, a percentage of the gross. If Miller and the studio thought he was important enough to the story to pay him that much 6 years ago, then they probably feel no different today. Check out the quote Miller made to Dark Horizon's back in 2002.

"Yes Mel's back on board (in response to his payment) He's worth every cent". -----George Miller

Add to that the Producer Offset that will pay Miller back Mel's salary times two! Back in 2003, Miller wasn't getting a penny in offsets or rebates.

2. Mel's not keen. He's gotta be physically fit be keen to put himself in harm's way wit the action at a remote Australian location for 30 weeks.
Why? Well he doesn't need the money. He doesn't need the acting gig. He's got a new relationship with new child. Why? I can't think of a single reason.

I can think of several reasons. Maybe he's intrigued with what Miller has in store for the character and wants to see it to some final resolution. Maybe he wants to close out his acting career with the character that started it so long ago. Maybe he wants to work with some old friends again (Miller, Semler, etc). Or maybe there is no tangible reason. Maybe he just wants to do it.

As for time spent on location, if the rumor of the Max character having a smaller part in the movie is true, then Mel won't be spending much of those 30 weeks in Broken Hill.

3. WARNER will want sequels and will only sign off on a star that will sign onto sequels - and cheaply (think about The TWILIGHT deal).
The Hollywood model at the moment is more interested in lowering costs and creating new stars with franchise re-inventions and unknowns - think Daniel Craig / Christian Bale and the entire STAR TREK crew.

I agree. But I also think that 2003's Fury Road was going to be Mel's (as well as Max's) last appearance in the franchise. Ledger would've be the one to carry on with sequels, if any. The same could still hold true here, except this time it will be Hardy carrying on. Mel as Max would act as the key linking his past stories to the new character's future ones, allowing audiences to experience, in one movie, the best of both worlds. Sorta like "Star Trek: Generations" except much, much better.

It won't need Mel's star to make it live again.

Maybe. Maybe not. But if Max is an integral part of the movie, then......well......I'll defer to the rhetorical question Miller once asked of a reporter.

"Would you watch a Mad Max film without Mel?" ----George Miller

[Mad_Maximus_88]

Mel as Max would act as the key linking his past stories to the new character's future ones, allowing audiences to experience, in one movie, the best of both worlds. Sorta like "Star Trek: Generations" except much, much better.

I dig your posts Bio - well thought out and backed up with sources. Awesome.

What you are saying above reminded the human trafficking plot rumour that was running the net back around 2003.
I'm, assuming that the impact of apocalypse - radiation polluting the human genome - had left a vast number of deformities/mutants?
So the new resource is pure genetic code. The trade of unpolluted human livestock that allows the different groups to breed without the crippling deformities..? Was that it?

If that is the plot - then its a storyline that's a story that could only happen a generation after the events of the trilogy.
Maybe that justifies Mel's limited involvement as an 'older' Max.
That would be inline with his age- passing over the torch to his... protege/son Tom Hardy...

Maybe this is a for another thread.

[biolumen]

I dig your posts Bio - well thought out and backed up with sources. Awesome.

I just hope I'm right. If I'm way off the mark, I'm going to look rather foolish.

Check out the comments in this talkback on the Herald Sun online newspaper. Clearly, many Australians abhor the idea of foreigners starring in "their" Mad Max movies. I have no idea how Miller comes to these creative decisions of his, but I find it hard to believe that these protestations from the press and his fellow countrymen are falling on deaf ears.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainme ... 5792024354

Miller has been the most vocal champion of the local film industry the last several years. He lamented at the press conference that Australia's best talent in front of and behind the camera is being drawn overseas because of a lack of films being made down there. A mere two days later, its announced that two non-Australians are to star in his movie. Is Miller really that hypocritical? Unless Mel or another Aussie is cast in the lead role (Max), I think he's lost all right to complain about lack of opportunity for Australians.

Another thing. It's no mistake the casting of Theron and Hardy was made offical after the press junket. Just a few days before the conference, it was leaked that Theron and Hardy were being cast in the movie. When that cat was out of the bag, Miller decided to immediately hold the conference. Theron and Hardy were still rumor then, so the questions asked of Miller centered around Mel's possible involvement. A couple days after the press conference, it was made official that Theron and Hardy were cast. If that announcement had been made before the junket, Miller would've been put in the awkward position of having to defend his decision to cast non-Australians at a time when he himself has been complaining of the lack of opportunity for local talent.

I suspect that another casting announcement is shortly forthcoming, this one involving an Australian or, hopefully, Mel. I don't think Miller will be doing any more interviews until then.

[Mad_Maximus_88]

Clearly, many Australians abhor the idea of foreigners starring in "their" Mad Max movies. I have no idea how Miller comes to these creative decisions of his, but I find it hard to believe that these protestations from the press and his fellow countrymen are falling on deaf ears.

I agree but Miller has always stated that its the universal archetypal appeal of his movies that is most important element.
And why they work everywhere.

There is a great interview with him on ABC radio talking about how the local industry can only survive if we are involved in making 'global stories'. His JUSTICE LEAGUE was based on US characters who were originally based on greek myth. Its a global story in his eyes - just shot in Australia. I can't find the podcast but here was the program page. http://abc.gov.au/rn/breakfast/stories/2008/2194975.htm

FURY ROAD will be made for a global market.
The US has 300 million people. 130 million in Japan. There's almost 400 million in the European Union.

There are only 20 million Australians and I'm sure the opinions of a tiny market really matter today in Miller's mind.

From the Denton interview 12 months ago...

ANDREW DENTON: Well, you are concerned about the future of this industry. What’s your fear for it?

GEORGE MILLER: That it’s not going to exist.

ANDREW DENTON: Why?

GEORGE MILLER: It barely exists now. We kind of insist on making very narrow band of films, which not only do we not want to see ourselves, Australians don’t want to go and see Australian movies, unlike it was in the 70s and early 80s, but the rest of the world doesn’t want to see, so the first thing is to recognise that the world has changed dramatically and yet we’re seeming to be running an industry that’s based on very, very old paradigms.

We’re stuck for some nostalgic past for 20 or 30 years ago, and it’s a film industry unfortunately run by the blockbuster.
http://eyeswiredopen.blogspot.com/2008/ ... eorge.html

From that perspective I don't think Miller thinks he even needs an Aussie Max. We all like to think that Sam Worthington would make a great Max - BUT what if his performance used his TERMINATOR SALVATION American accent? Us Aussies might care - but the international mass market wouldn't blink an eye I'm guessing.

Baz Luhrman's AUSTRALIA proved that the world doesn't really care that much for an Australian story- despite its A-list Aussie cast.
That and the film sucked.

Each film has become progressively more international in its cast as the budgets have risen.
Mike Preston. Then Tina Turner playing the central antagonist no less.
I'm sure Miller sees this as a global myth. Where its set and where the actors are from are from is now irrelevant.

Charlize Theron is South African. Tom Hardy is a Brit.

You're right Bio - those casting leaks may have had a little hand in the timing of Miller's press conference, and the casting of the Max or the new lead will be held for a "special announcement". And then we'll ALL know about it- The Variety / THR story just seemed to be about Co-stars.

[biolumen]

I see what you're saying. Miller is thinking global. Australian movies should have the widest appeal in order to thrive in international markets. Fine. But why the need to cast foreigners as Australians, let alone the most iconic of Australians, Max Rockatansky? I'm not an Aussie, but I and many others (just read any random board on the subject) think having anyone but Mel or an Australian actor as Max would be a poor decision. I mean, we're not talking Shakespeare here. Brendan McCarthy said he and Miller designed Fury Road as a story that could be told visually. In other words, like Mad Max 2, dialog will be relatively sparse. The real stars will be Miller and the action. This role will not be all that demanding acting wise. Is the talent pool down under really that small?

Anyway, the Herald Sun reports that Eric Bana hasn't even been approached for the role of Max. If Miller was looking for someone to replace Mel in the role as Max, Bana would probably be one of the top candidates. The fact that Bana hasn't even been looked at probably means that either Max isn't in the movie or Gibson is already set to reprise the role, and the fact that Miller even bothered to address the question of who will play Max (It could be Mel, it could be anyone) suggests to me the latter option.

Where its set and where the actors are from are from is now irrelevant.

It's true that Brits and Aussies have been playing Yanks in the movies for years, but I argue that for certain established roles, you shouldn't do that. I equate casting anyone but Mel or an Aussie for Max to casting an American actor for James Bond. You can do it, but don't expect a lot a people to like the idea. Look what happened with Lazenby.

[bmacsys]

I hope Fury Road doesn't end up being a "love story". Hiring a big star like Theron scares me a little. MMI and MMII were like ensemble pieces. The action and the vehicles were the real stars. Even over Mel.