Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy will star. What this means for Mel Gibson is still uncertain.
Charlize Theron to star in 'Mad' film
'Max' without Mel? New 'Fury' in Oz
By DAVE MCNARY
Charlize Theron is revving up for "Mad Max: Fury Road," with producer-director George Miller set to start filming next August in Australia.
British actor Tom Hardy ("Black Hawk Down") will also star opposite Theron.. Thesps are the first major castings announced in the fourth version of the futuristic "Mad Max" franchise, which has been dormant for 2½ decades.
Theron will next be seen in Dimension's post-apocalyptic "The Road" opposite Viggo Mortensen.
Logline on the script, also penned by Miller, is being kept under wraps. Doug Mitchell is producing with Miller, and Warner Bros. is set to distribute.
Miller had announced last weekend that pre-production work was starting in New South Wales but he didn't give any indication as to whether Mel Gibson might return or who would play the male lead. "It could be Mel, it could be anyone," he told reporters.
Miller and the 21-year-old Gibson launched their careers with "Mad Max" in 1979, shot in Victoria and portraying a broken-down future society. The duo teamed on "The Road Warrior" (1981) -- which was a worldwide success -- and "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" (1985).
Miller, who went on to produce "Babe" and direct "Happy Feet," announced in 2003 that a script had been written with Brendan McCarthy for "Mad Max 4" and that pre-production was in early stages, but security concerns over trying to film in Namibia put the project on the back burner.
Miller's also directing "Happy Feet 2," for which Warners has set a release date of Nov. 18, 2011.
Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are in negotiations to star in “Fury Road,” this century’s installment of the “Mad Max” movie series from writer-director George Miller.
Miller is producing with Doug Mitchell.
Despite his long association with the fourth movie, Mel Gibson is not reprising his iconic role of Max Rockatansky, the hardened ex-cop in a future beset by gas shortages and marauding gangs.
That job goes to Hardy, the British-born actor who stole scenes as Handsome Bob in Guy Ritchie’s “RocknRolla.” (”RocknRolla” has proved to be a launch pad for Hardy, who booked a gig in Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” as well. He also starred in “Bronson.”)
Theron is playing the female lead.
While story details are being kept under wraps, the movie does take place a short while after the story detailed in 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” which keeps Mad Max relatively young.
A shoot next summer in Australia is being eyed. The movie will be an Australian production which Warner Bros. will distribute.
“Road” has been in the works for more than a decade, with Gibson attached to star at one point. When the project finally began ramping up earlier this spring and summer, Miller began looking at and testing numerous actors who could step into the grim shoes previously worn by Gibson.
Courtenay Valenti is overseeing for the studio.
Theron, repped by WME and One Talent Management, appears next in this fall’s “The Road.”
While story details are being kept under wraps, the movie does take place a short while after the story detailed in 1985’s “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” which keeps Mad Max relatively young.
I know the second article says Hardy will play Max, but the Variety article (the one I trust more) doesn't come out and say that. All it says is Hardy will star opposite Theron. I think they don't say Hardy will be Max because Variety doesn't know that for a fact. Not saying the second article isn't correct, but I find Variety's lack of confirmation frustrating.
Clint at moviehole.com resides in Oz and has contacts in the industry. He claims he posted "some interesting scuttlebutt", only to have the studio request that he take it off his website. Make of it what you will.
Casting to the Max
by Clint Morris (Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pm )
Variety has confirmed a report by Entertainment Weekly suggesting Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy are downunder bound for “Mad Max : Fury Road”.
The film will lens next August in NSW.
I have heard some interesting scuttlebutt [removed at the request of the studio... was I onto something there? hmmm?).
I think it's pretty clear that director George Miller had to cough up more than Theron, Hardy and a couple of cool cars to gain his sumly $100 million dollar budget, don't you?
Those probably more in the loop on this one, than the media, serve cold ones at the Silverton Hotel.
Even if the new movie is good, the fact that Mel may not be in it could really hurt the movie's popularity. Especialy to the other fans out there. I hope its not lost in the shuffle like so many movies tend to get nowadays. It will really have to be stand out GOOD! I think Miller can do it agian if he puts his mind to it.
