Furiosa has officially started production and the first set photos have surfaced online. While they may not offer much at first glance, they provided fans with a small taste of what to expect from George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road prequel.
Released in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road received acclaim for its stunning action sequences and compelling story. At the heart of the praise was Charlize Theron as Furiosa, a war captain serving under the villainous Immortan Joe who turns against him in order to free "The Five Wives."
Now, Miller is set to explore the past of Furiosa, this time with Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role. Principle photography on the prequel began on June 1 in Australia, with the project set to be the largest film ever shot in the nation. While the set photos shared by South Coast Register may not offer much more than a glimpse at a supposed biker gang and desert wasteland, the former salt mining site in Kernell was reportedly the same spot where some scenes from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome were shot. It's possible the location could be used for an entirely new setting in Furiosa, but for now, the image of a fortress-type structure should keep fans intrigued.
Absent from the Furiosa set photos are the big-name stars of the film, which includes Chris Hemsworth as an unknown villain. Still, it's been suggested that Furiosa will explore some locations that were mentioned in Mad Max: Fury Road but never actually seen. While these new set photos don't exactly provide any details on that subject, fans will likely scour these images for clues.
While most fans are excited to see Miller return to the world of Mad Max, others are disappointed that the director re-cast the role of Furiosa instead of turning to de-aging technology to allow Theron to return. However, Miller has explained that he believes said technology is not quite up to par at this time, saying there is still an "uncanny valley" feeling to the final results.
Still, Taylor-Joy has proven herself to be an outstanding actor in her own right, so there's little doubt that she can bring her own noteworthy take on the beloved Furiosa. Plus, a return to the franchise after the success of Fury Road is hardly anything to complain about no matter who cast, at least until Miller gets going on Mad Max 5.
Furiosa is scheduled to release in theaters on May 24, 2024.
Source: South Coast Register