Speaking to journalists during promotion for Inception, Tom Hardy answered a few questions on the upcoming fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise: Fury Road. ComingSoon carries the full interview and, though the specifics are sparse, there are still a few key points to focus on:
We have to take it differently, as George [Miller, director and creator of all the installments] is taking it. It’s a relaunch and revisit to the world. An entire restructuring. That’s not to say that it’s not picking up or leaving off from the Mad Max you know already, but it’s a nice re-take on the entire world using the same character, depositing him in the same world, but bringing him up to date by 30 years.
This seems to go hand-in-hand with the only official news on the project so far – that the film will take place a short while after the events of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. It appears that the character will be a new version of the Max Rockatansky we’re used to, casting change aside, though not too far removed as interestingly, Hardy states that Mel Gibson was given the chance to reprise the iconic role, but declined, suggesting a tweaking of the script to allow for Hardy’s age difference.
Hardy also suggested that WETA will be involved in creating the CGI for the film, but is quick to state the action will not all be digital, which is a relief to fans of the original’s visceral stunts:
I think the boys that did “Lord of the Rings” are involved. That kind of stuff as well. CGI is not going to be — I think it’s going to be much more about how you deal with action. These things are going to be really there. Big rigs, big explosions, big car crashes. Big violence, you know. It’s going to actually happen as opposed to doing a 2D turned to 3D screen.
A schedule for shooting has not yet been officially released, however Hardy alludes to the cameras rolling before the year is out, with him in Australia currently for two months of training before shooting starts, which is expected to last from nine months to a year.
Although it would have been fantastic to see Gibson back in the role that launched his career, anyone who has watched Hardy in Bronson or UK mini-series The Take will know he has intensity and edge in abundance which will be perfect for a new imagining of the character.
What do you think of Hardy’s comments on Mad Max: Fury Road?