Furiosa Release Date, Plot, And Cast - What We Know So Far
"Mad Max: Fury Road" came screaming into cinemas all the way back in 2015, if you can believe it. The long-awaited fourth entry in the "Mad Max" franchise rebooted the entire narrative, trading an aged Mel Gibson for a stoic Tom Hardy in the titular role. Directed by George Miller, who has spearheaded every film in the post-apocalyptic franchise, "Fury Road" went on to become a cultural phenomenon, garnering a massive amount of critical acclaim for its action sequences, pulse-pounding narrative, and use of practical effects. Since it's considered by many to be one of the best films of the last decade, it's no surprise that the film holds a whopping 97% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and went on to receive 10 nominations at the Academy Award, including for best picture and best director.
"Fury Road" succeeded by crucially expanding the world of "Mad Max," which audiences last visited in 1985's "Beyond Thunderdome." That expansion includes the creation of fan-favorite character Furiosa (Charlize Theron), a former war captain who joined forces with Max to liberate women forced to breed with Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne).
While a direct sequel to "Mad Max: Fury Road" has also been announced, no further details have been provided on the project. However, Miller and Warner Bros. are also working on a "Furiosa" prequel film that is set to release sooner than you think. Here's everything we know so far.
When will Furiosa be released?
"Furiosa" was announced in 2020 and was originally set to race into cinemas in the summer of 2023. Since then, the film has been pushed back to May 7, 2024 (via IndieWire). Should the prequel's date stick, the film will be released nine years after Furiosa's debut in "Mad Max: Fury Road."
Filming on the prequel hasn't started as of this writing, though it appears that key cast members have already started arriving in Australia to prepare for the likely grueling shoot (via Daily Mail). Seeing as the film will likely make extensive use of special effects, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that George Miller's latest "Mad Max" entry suffers a delay.
Miller has recently completed work on "Three Thousand Years of Longing," a fantasy epic which is set to debut at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. "Fury Road" made its debut at the prestigious French film festival as well in 2015. After Miller's upcoming film premieres, it's safe to imagine that the director will begin production on "Furiosa," a film that has been touted as the biggest movie ever made in Australia by New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian (via Sydney Morning Herald).
Who will star in Furiosa?
Seeing as "Furiosa" is a prequel that will detail the cunning war captain's early days in the "Mad Max" wasteland, Charlize Theron will not be reprising her role. Instead, George Miller has tapped rising star Anya-Taylor Joy — best known for roles in "The Queen's Gambit" and "Split" — to appear as Furiosa. Theron admitted her true feelings about the recasting, revealing that not returning as Furiosa was heartbreaking. Miller had previously announced that de-aging Theron would be out of the question (via The New York Times).
"Thor" star Chris Hemsworth will also be appearing in the film, with rumors suggesting the Australian actor will appear as a villain who goes up against Furiosa. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who appears as Black Manta in the "Aquaman" films, was originally set to appear in "Furiosa" but dropped out due to a scheduling conflict (via Deadline). "Mank" star Tom Burke has since replaced Abdul-Mateen II. It's unclear who Burke will play in the action film.
With a core cast of Hollywood hotshots, fans will have to wait and see who else joins the "Mad Max" spin-off. Eager audience members can expect more casting announcements as the film ramps up in production. Previous "Mad Max" entries have featured a bevy of Australian actors and with "Furiosa" shooting in the country's desert, we can expect some rising Aussie talent to grace the silver screen when the film hits cinemas.
What is the plot of Furiosa?
While it's unclear how far back the film will go in detailing Furiosa's backstory, it's safe to assume that we'll see the character in the process of becoming an independent and fierce warrior. Shortly after the film was announced, George Miller teased the scope of "Furiosa," labeling it a saga, saying it will take place over many years unlike "Fury Road." Could we see Furiosa as a carefree child, before she got wrapped up in the chaos and bloodlust of the wasteland?
Details on the film, beyond its narrative framing, are slim. Only time will tell if Furiosa will cross paths with Immortan Joe in the prequel as the man behind the mask, Hugh Keays-Byrne, passed away in 2020. There's certainly a lot to tackle in a prequel, as "Furiosa" could dive into the character's time with the Vulvalini, who helped join the battle against Immortan Joe in "Fury Road." The prequel could also plant seeds regarding Furiosa becoming a tyrant in the future, an outcome that Miller suggested would be possible after the events of "Fury Road."
It remains to be seen what story Miller will tackle this time around but with a plot that spans several years and an A-list cast, it's safe to say "Furiosa" will be another interesting entry in the "Mad Max" franchise.