George Miller Still Gunning For Live-Action ‘Mad Max’

[Morrisminor]

Here's another mtv article that was posted a few days after their first "CGI Anime" report. A much better outlook!

With Anime Underway, George Miller Still Gunning For Live-Action ‘Mad Max’
Published by Eric Ditzian on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11:35 am.
It was early in 2003 and Australian writer/director George Miller was gearing up to begin shooting the fourth “Mad Max” movie almost two-and-a-half decades after the last one hit theaters. Mel Gibson was set to reprise the role that made him a star and filming was to begin in Namibia. Then the United States went to war in Iraq, and everything fell apart.

Miller, however, has never given up his dream of restarting the project. “You would think I would be done with ‘Mad Max’ by now, but once you let those stories creep into your mind they keep going around in your head,” he told MTV News.

One thing Miller has given up on is his leading man, who turned 53 in January. “The ideas we have for live action are very physical. The stories are pretty physical. It’s not like ‘Unforgiven,’ about an older person.” In other words, Mel, no one wants an elderly Max fighting freaks with one hand and popping Advil with the other.

Just six years ago, Miller had a very different attitude and was ready to use Gibson in the fourth film, titled, “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

“We got pretty close and then the American dollar collapsed because of the Iraq war,” said Miller. Their budget virtually disappeared. Additionally, 20th Century Fox balked at the logistical complexities of moving equipment and crew into Africa with war on the horizon. The studio pulled the plug and Miller went off to write and direct the animated crowd-pleaser, “Happy Feet.”

Now the director is once again revisiting the franchise that made his name. As we reported earlier, he’s developing two projects based on “Max”: a feature-length 3D anime version and an action-adventure videogame. Both are still several years away from seeing the light of day and neither will involve Gibson.

Two new “Mad Max” ventures sounds like plenty for now, but Miller continues to keep the door open to his original plans for a fourth film, albeit with a younger, as-yet- unnamed lead actor. “It depends on when the opportunity comes to do the live-action film,” said the director. “‘Mad Max’ was a lifetime ago.”

Originally at http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/03/11/wi ... n-mad-max/

[Justice]

Not really... The Anime is still on, and Max Life Action is just as it was. A distant (pipe) dream.

[MFP 2020]

One thing Miller has given up on is his leading man, who turned 53 in January. “The ideas we have for live action are very physical. The stories are pretty physical. It’s not like ‘Unforgiven,’ about an older person.” In other words, Mel, no one wants an elderly Max fighting freaks with one hand and popping Advil with the other.

Bollocks! They just did a "very physical" new Indiana Jones movie and Harrison Ford was what, 65? There must be some other reason Miller doesn't want to use Mel. Personally, I'd be insulted. Would the Mad Max trilogy have been such a ginormous success with someone else as Max? Maybe, but I really doubt it.

Also, Mel must have a couple skillion dollars in the bank. Why wouldn't he help finance it through Icon? Come on, people. You can make this happen if you really want it!

Like I commented on the MTV page, if Mel is in it, I'll pay to see it in the theater. If not, I'll wait for Netflix.

[Foxtrot X-Ray]

There must be some other reason Miller doesn't want to use Mel..

I'd call that a Given, actually.
Perhaps Miller & Gibson had some manner of falling out or something?
(Or Gibson's antics a while back caused situations that we're not aware of.. This seems likely to Me.)

As for the Age-thing... Gibson may have bad Arthritis or some other ailment that would prevent him from being "Very Physical" or any number of legitimate reasons that would likewise make it to problematic.
Something he's managed to keep quiet.

We don't know.


All I can suggest is.. "Eyes are Watching" So let's conduct ourselves in a diplomatic manner.
I.E. We can state that we don't like an idea without looking like a bunch of horse's Arses.

[MFP 2020]

Point taken, Foxtrot. Alls I'm saying is that Mel's age is a very flimsy excuse for not using him in the movie, particularly with the state of CGI today (face-mapping a la Blue Crush, for example). In Marathon Man, Sir Laurence Olivier was so old they had to use a stunt double to shoot a scene of him running across a street. So the question isn't "Can it be done?" The question is "How do we do it convincingly?"

At the very least, I'd like to see Max (that is, Mel) handing the reins to, say, his son. Then at least we have continuity. Not ideal for my tastes, but preferable to a complete reboot.

[Justice]

With all due respect, but Max's son? Look at Indiana Jones, I just about killed myself when I saw his son gunning for Indy's hat at the end of the flick. Max died in the Road Warrior as far as I am concerned, they royally screwed with his character in the 3rd movie. It's either Gibson, or you don't call it Mad Max. It's that simple.

Reboot the franchise is a phrase I've heard to many times. You can bet your ass I will not pay to watch the most likely inevitable Indiana Jones 5 with his son being Indy.

[boss]

With respect to mr Gibson, I have seen some resent photos of him... he is NO madmax anymore... he just got old as we all do. Ford was also showing his age in the last movie... not the same indi.

I am all for a new live action movie... I have a hard time picturing Mel in it... imo, he is TO OLD.

His voice in a animated part could keep him young though imo.

[boss]

Thinking OUT LOUD...

Regarding making live movie... Miller does not need to got to Africa... we are much closer... CND

Come to CND for same effect, cheaper, our money ant worth poop again, we have many film and location resources good for film like this

Sask and-or Man good place for filming... has lots of flat nothing... lots of crazys there... highest crime rate in CND... like the wild west still

F&D can help you... I would work for beer and pizza... if I knew production on this one was coming up here

I would think Miller would be considering CND option if limited funds were even avalable for live action version film... some good stuff made up here

Would love the see return of Interceptor or simular in some way... we can build

New anime with live action to go with it... would be Trick!... just like new live Batman film and anime

I can picture a/the new vid game something like a newer/better version of Roadrash 3D... with cars and bikes... that would be a blast!

would even donate one of my cars for 100+ft jump...

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_imag ... _large.jpg

[Mad_Maximus_88]

MM4 - FURY ROAD. Max in 3D.
» Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:50 pm

The next time we hear anything about the status of FURY ROAD will be in October & November press conferences for HAPPY FEET.
Till then we will have to wait.

I have a prediction. We will get Max - but not for several years.

The US studio system is NOT going to fund a $200 million action film with Mel as the star until memores of his drunken malibu rampage have faded.
Apocalypto won't do the business Passion did - There just isn't a ready made audience. People will blame Mel's negative press and say that his behavoir has caused his 'start to fade' as they have just done with Cruise. This will also make studios nervous.

Miller won't do the big budget FURY ROAD with a new actor. With Brad Pitt THE FOUNTAIN was a $70 million movie. With Hugh Jackman it had to be retooled as a $35 million movie. Miller will not rewrite FURY ROAD to be a smaller movie for a new star.

My bet is that Miller will wait for the heat on Mel to cool.
He will also wait until High Definition 3D cinemas are up and running and shoot for that format.

That's what James Cameron has been waiting for. AVATAR, the first film he's made in 10 years is going to be 3D digital. Straight after that he's planning another 3D epic BATTLE ANGEL ALITA. Each has a giant amount of 3D CG FX. The future is large format 3D - this the only real way that studios can be guarenteed to put 'bums in cinema seats' - to beat piracy and the resulting falling ticket sales.

FURY ROAD will be a summation of the best 'in camera action' CG enhanced environments and 3D immersion.

Not a bad prediction for almost 3 years ago...

[Chase Bansi]

For live action I still think MM 1.5 is the answer. It's the CARS that are the stars we love most! Fill in the story of the BoB changes as well as what happened to all the yellow cars. Finding stand-ins shouldn't be to hard . I have a feeling many of the original locations would be available still. I can be flexible with who's behind the wheel as long as it's filmed with the style of the first two films.