I’m just going to state this up front so that there’s no confusion later on: This story is the most rumour-y of rumours, completely with facts that don’t quite line up and timelines that don’t match. But hell, just on the off chance that this actually turns out to be true, I guess I need to share it.
Ever since George Miller’s long-in-development Mad Max: Fury Road came and blew our collective minds with its badass characters and intense storytelling, there’s been talk of a sequel. Or rather, sequels, as Miller reportedly had multiple follow-up stories to tell. But according to a new report from Australia’s Herald Sun, the sequels is actually a prequel, that “is said to focus on the backstory of Furiosa, played by Oscar winner Charlize Theron”.
According to the Herald, “pre-production is gearing up on the multi-million-dollar action-packed Warner Bros franchise, with NSW’s Broken Hill Studios Miller’s first choice for shooting”. If you followed the incredibly troubled production on Fury Road, you would remember that the desert-like Broken Hill was the original shooting location for the film. However out-of-season rains caused a massive floral bloom, resulting in endless delays that eventually required Miller and co to move their entire production to Namibia. So suggesting that the next Mad Max film will be shot there is no stretch of the imagination.
Also, throwing in the bone that the film be focusing on Theron’s Furiosa seems like reaching for low-hanging fruit. Theron’s character was a breakout star, often stealing the limelight from Tom Hardy’s titular Max Rockatansky, so there should be no surprise if she was central to the film. And since, her past was hinted at so strongly but never fully revealed, a prequel exploring it would also be self explanatory.
In other words, personally I think that this report is nothing more than somebody playing connect the really obvious dots. The report goes on to even claim that Miller might be good to go on production on this purported prequel later this year. Based on all the pre-production that went into Fury Road, the chances of that becoming a reality is rather slim.
Based on how much Miller has changed his mind over the details of his planned follow-up, I’m not saying that a prequel focusing on Furiosa filmed in Broken Hill won’t happen. I just don’t think this supposed prequel will be it.
Last Updated: September 19, 2016
