The upcoming Mad Max prequel, Furiosa, has been met with some issues behind-the-scenes as production has been shut down after director George Miller tests positive for COVID-19. Filming on Furiosa has been taking place in Australia, but a report from the Daily Mail has revealed that things have now been suspended.
The legendary filmmaker George Miller, who is behind the entirety of the Mad Max franchise, including 2015’s Academy Award-nominated Mad Max: Fury Road, reportedly tested positive for the virus earlier this week and will now be required to isolate at home. Luckily, Miller’s home is in Sydney, meaning that, should he hopefully recover well, filming will be able to pick up again after seven days of isolation. At present, the delay is not expected to have a major impact on the development of Furiosa, with no other cast or crew members testing positive at this time.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Furiosa will follow Last Night in Soho and The Northman star Anya Taylor-Joy as an earlier version of Mad Max: Fury Road character Imperator Furiosa. Warner Bros. Pictures recently unveiled an official synopsis for Furiosa, which offers further insight into what the prequel will involve.
“As the world fell, 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,” the plot description reads. “Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.”
Furiosa Set Images Have Revealed Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa & Chris Hemsworth as Dementus
20th Century Studios
While nothing official has yet been released regarding the character’s that will inhabit Furiosa, several images from set have revealed our first look at both Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa and Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth as the villain of the story, the Warlord Dementus. Taylor-Joy is shown sporting a much longer haircut than her predecessor, Charlize Theron, did in Mad Max: Fury Road. The actress is also seen wearing a green-screen style glove on one hand, suggesting that the character will already be missing her left arm, much like the Furiosa of Fury Road.
Chris Hemsworth, meanwhile, looks like he never has before, with Hollywood heartthrob seen with a great, big, bushy red beard and long hair, as well as prosthetics that have been used to change some of his facial features. Reports have stated that Furiosa will find Hemsworth playing “against type” as the villain of the piece, with the behind-the-scenes book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road” offering more details.
“George saw Chris [Hemsworth] initially as a courtesy and then fell in love with the idea,” first assistant director, P. J. Voeten revealed. “He’s going to play totally against type, the lead baddie. Unfortunately, we’ve got to find all of our other characters that aren’t around anymore: a new Immortan, a new Bullet Farmer, and a few others.”
Directed and co-written by George Miller and starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, and Angus Sampson, Furiosa is due for release on May 24, 2024.
