Mad Max: Furiosa Production Shut Down Due To A Scary Health Concern
The world isn't quite safe to go in all the way, and the set of Mad Max: Furiosa was shut down because of a scary health concern that still worries productions.
This article is more than 2 years old
The long-awaited prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road has been forced to halt production for health and safety reasons. Filming on Furiosa, which has been taking place in Australia, has come to a stop after director George Miller tested positive for Covid-19. The filmmaker, who worked on the entire franchise, will now be required to isolate himself at home in Sydney. The delay is not expected to have a major impact on the project’s timeline since no one else on the set has tested positive for the virus at this time, the Daily Mail reports.
The Furiosa setback is reminiscent of Miller’s infamous shoot for 2012’s Mad Max: Fury Road. At the time the film was plagued by several costly delays and production issues. Productions initially began in Namibia but encountered some public relations hiccups after the country’s Conservation Coast and Management Project accused producers of damaging plant and animal species. The studios later dismissed these reports as “rhetoric.” Re-shoots later took place in Potts Hill and Penrith Lakes in Western Sydney, but bad weather led to more delays.
Unlike Furiosa, it was also revealed that tension between Mad Max: Fury Road stars Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy also led to major disruptions on set. After making headlines years later, the actress said she demanded protection from the Marvel alum at one point. Speaking to writer Kyle Buchanan (via the Daily Mail) for his book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road”, Theron said Hardy’s lateness on set caused tension that almost entirely derailed the movie. Luckily, the pair managed to tolerate each for the duration of filming and the movie went on to earn almost $400 million at the global box office.
Mad Max: Furiosa boats an impressive cast with Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role as Imperator Furiosa. The film also features Chris Hemsworth as Immortan Joe, Tom Burke as Dr. Dementus, Nathan Jones as Rictus Erectus, and Angus Sampson as The Organic Mechanic. While nothing official has been released about each character, set photos have given fans their first look Taylor-Joy as Furiosa. She is seen with a much longer hairstyle than her predecessor, Charlize Theron. Looking rather disheveled, the actress is also wearing a green-screen glove, on one hand, suggesting that the character will already be missing her left arm, much like the Furiosa in Fury Road.
Described as a post-apocalyptic action adventure, Furiosa is directed by George Miller from a script he co-wrote with Nico Lathouris. It serves as a spin-off and prequel to 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The project also sees the rerun of film editor Margaret Sixel, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and composer Junkie XL. As the fifth movie in the franchise, the story focuses on the origins of Furiosa.
As the world fell, a young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by the Immortan Joe. While these two Tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa must survive several trials as she puts together a plan to find her way home. The movie is currently expected to hit theaters on May 24, 2024.
