Anya Taylor-Joy’s Mad Max Movie Is Actually Happening
Anya Taylor-Joy's upcoming Mad Max movie is finally set to begin filming. Here's what we know so far.
This article is more than 2 years old
Furiosa, the long-awaited prequel to George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road, is back on track and fans couldn’t be more excited, none more than the new Furiosa, Anya Taylor-Joy.
Ever since it was announced that Anya Taylor-Joy would be taking over for Charlize Theron as Furiosa, Mad Max fans have been patiently waiting for the production start date. Now, fans have gotten what they wanted. Mad Max franchise creator George Miller and new Furiosa co-star Chris Hemsworth were on hand at a recent press conference in South Wales to discuss the upcoming production and why it was finally going to go before the cameras.
“Since we started Fury Road I think there’s been six different regimes at Warner Bros,” Miller said via Deadline of the studio’s turnover. “Now it’s stabilized very much and they’re able to basically pay attention coherently to the films they want to make and this is one of them.” Miller and producers of the film felt a bit of a time crunch to film a key action sequence this year for the Anya Taylor-Joy movie because of a proposed Australian decrease in tax incentives within New South Wales. Thankfully, the tax rebate decision has since been reversed and will remain at 40%, allowing Miller more time to get his ducks in a row.
Before the presser, not much was known about the Furiosa prequel starring Anya Taylor-Joy. But during the press conference, Miller dropped a hint or two as to how his Furiosa prequel would differ from the other movies in the Mad Max franchise. Mainly, it revolves around timeframes. In the past, the Mad Max movies took place over a few days or weeks timeframe. With Furiosa, the director explained via Collider that he “didn’t set out to make a big epic movie,” but as the story evolved, it demanded many different scenes since the story will follow Furiosa through years instead of days. That, folks, is about all we get from Miller and his story.
While Anya Taylor-Joy was thrilled to be cast as the young Furiosa, she also knew that she had some big shoes to fill. “I fell in love with Furiosa because of the way Charlize presented her,” Taylor-Joy said via Indiewire. “She did such an incredible job. It was so beautiful. I can’t even think about trying to step into her shoes. It has to be something different because it just can’t be done.” Anya Taylor-Joy then went on to discuss her preparation for the role. “I’ve already started dreaming about [Furiosa] and she’s coming in very strong. I’m so committed to working as hard as possible as I can. I always said that I wanted a role that I would have to give everything to, it wouldn’t just be my mind but my body, what I’m doing with myself when I’m not on set. I’m so excited for that and to push myself past the limits of what my brain thought was possible.”
Of course, the Charlize Anya Taylor-Joy is speaking of is Charlize Theron, who developed the action character Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. While Theron understood the direction George Miller was taking with Furiosa, it didn’t make his decision to not bring her back any less heartbreaking. “It’s a tough one to swallow,” Theron told The Hollywood Reporter. “Listen, I fully respect George, if not more so in the aftermath of making Fury Road with him. He’s a master, and I wish him nothing but the best. Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character [Furiosa], and I’m so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly.”
As for Chris Hemsworth, he will join Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa as a new character, Dementus, brandishing a long silver scar on his face. Hemsworth’s addition to the cast represents the “biggest pinch-myself moment, because I’ve grown up watching it [Mad Max] and it’s so iconic… It is a huge honor. A lot of pressure, but exciting pressure that is certainly motivating.” Joining both Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth on the set is Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in an undisclosed role.
You can also count New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian as another big fan of the movie’s beginning production. Miller plans on shooting the entire movie in New South Wales and the outback and according to Berejiklian, the production looks to create some 850 new jobs and pump in at least $350 million AUD into the local economy. That is a big win for the Australian state.
George Miller is just happy to have the Anya Taylor-Joy-led movie going to cinemas. With Warner Bros. stating that in 2022, they will be going back to their tried-and-true releasing of movies first in movie theaters, this is one Miller feels needs to be seen and heard on the big screen. Furiosa is slated to premiere on June 23, 2023.
If you’re interested, the entire presser involving Premier Gladys Berejiklian, director George Miller, and Chris Hemsworth, who was in town filming Thor: Love and Thunder, can be seen below.
