Mad Max 4 to be an R-rated 3-D anime feature

[biolumen]

EXCLUSIVE: Fourth ‘Mad Max’ In Development…As 3-D Anime Feature

Published by Eric Ditzian on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 12:30 pm.

Good ol’ Mad Max: post-apocalyptic gun-slinger with a need for blood-thirsty revenge! MTV News’ #4 Movie Badass of All Time! And…star of a 3-D anime feature film?!

Unlikely as that last one sounds, some big screen animated “Max” action is shaping up to become a reality, according to George Miller, the writer/director of the previous three films. The catch? He doesn’t want Max himself, Mel Gibson, anywhere near the project.

“We’ll probably go a different route,” Miller told MTV News about the potential talent voicing the lead role. The plot would be partly lifted from the script of the fourth “Max” film, which was set to shoot in 2003 until financing collapsed in the wake of the Iraq War.

Now Miller is resurrecting the idea as an R-rated, stereoscopic anime flick for theatrical release. It’s a curious undertaking, to be sure, but one made all the more certain to happen after the runaway success in 2006 of his computer-animated “Happy Feet”—not that the newest, ever-violent “Max” film will have much in common with that kid-friendly penguin party.

“I see myself as someone who is very curious about storytelling and all its various media,” Miller said. “I’ve always loved anime, in particular the Japanese sensibility. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”

The project is one phase of a “Mad Max” renaissance of sorts. Along with “God of War II” designer Corey Barlog, Miller is developing an action-adventure videogame based on the fourth film. Gibson won’t be participating in that endeavor, either.

For the anime release, Miller isn’t looking simply to mimic Japanese-style animation but rather to adapt it for Western audiences. “The anime is an opportunity for me to shift a little bit about what anime is doing because anime is ripe for an adjustment or sea change,” he explained. “It’s coming in games and I believe it’s the same in anime. There’s going to be a hybrid anime where it shifts more towards Western sensibilities. [Japanese filmmaker Akira] Kurosawa was able to bridge that gap between the Japanese sensibilities and the West and make those definitive films.”

It’s been 23 years since we last tasted some fresh “Mad Max” goodness, but neither the anime nor the game will be arriving soon enough to satisfy our hunger for the rage-filled Australian vigilante. “I’ve got a couple of years left,” said Miller. “We’re in the early stages writing and designing. A really good game you need two and half years. And for good anime you need two years.

3D anime “Mad Max”—awesome idea or awesomest? But will it — can it?? — be the same without Mel Gibson’s voice?

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/03/05/exclusive-fourth-mad-max-in-developmentas-3-d-anime-feature/

 

[CFE]

If they want a "Mad Max 4," do it proper with a live action film directed by George Miller and featuring an old and grizzled 'Mad' Max Rockatansky...played by MEL GIBSON.

Anime? Seriously??

 

[Octoberist]

ummm...i would rather have a live action movie too. what the heck is this?

 

[The Sarge]

You just can't change an established live actio franchise to an animated one. It didn't even work for Ninja Turtles IMO.

 

[Octoberist]

i know. It's like a downgrade (in most cases. I can't think of it being an upgrade).

I never understood how Miller thought it would be right to cancel Mad Max 4 because of the...War on Terror? Umm..still till this very day, is that a valid reason? I mean, come on.

 

[Rac]

Beyond Thunderdome already sucked. Color me not interested.

 

[Timstuff]

While I should be thrilled at the prospect of a Mad Max anime, I can't help but be disappointed. If they're not going to have Mel Gibson involved, they should have stuck to live action and gotten someone like Hugh Jackman to take Gibson's place. I really wanted a Lord of the Rings scale battle with hundreds of beat up cars driving at each other with crazy makeshift weapons and stuf... Oh well, I guess it's just not going to happen.

 

[DorkyFresh]

depending on who is involved and how it is done, this could be cool. they made a Highlander anime a couple years ago that seems to have been well recieved by critics...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_Vengeance

 

[DorkyFresh]

edit: double post

 

[I'm Old Greg]

Live Action or NO DEAL.

 

[french joker]

Aw, come on.:facepalm

 

[Octoberist]

not only that but mel gibson is not even involved

 

[Timstuff]

It's a freaking CARTOON. How hard could it possibly be to get Gibson to do a voice over for the character? Is there bad blood involved?

 

[Octoberist]

i don't know..

It would be weird because he would have to do his Aussie accent that he lost back in the 80s.

 

[scifiwolf]

I actually like the anime idea, as that medium is great for telling nihilistic, post-apocalyptic stories. My main beef comes from Miller's desire to specifically exclude Mel from the project. I realize Max is George's baby, but Mel made the role.

 

[Space Moose]

I like the idead of a video game, but an Anime? Still won't be as bad as Beyond Thunderdome. Now that sucked. Majorly.

 

[Timstuff]

But what about Master Blaster?

 

[thejon93]

I was honestly expecting this to be the next 'Die Hard' film, but I think that this would be the best way to start. And for the people complaining that it's CGI, look at nothing but the truth: Mel Gibson ISN'T attached, for he's too busy making bad, overly-violent R-rated pictures over the films that got him starred in the buisness. I'm waiting to see how this turns out, however, I'm not on anyones side about this movie(at the moment, show me a theatrical trailer and I'll make a judgment).

 

[Timstuff]

No-one said it would be CG. It will have stereoscopic 3D and be Anime-inspired, but no-where did I read that the characters would be CG.

 

[huskerwebhead]

I could probably stomach an Anime version if at least Gibson was involved....but without him it just doesn't work. I'll pass.

 

[The Sarge]

Tell the truth, the only good Mad Max film in my opinion was Road Warrior. The first one I found kind of boring, and the world doesn't feel as desolate as the next 2. It serves as a good lead up to the second though.

Beyond Thunderdome did suck, but it I think it had a lot of cool idea's- just badly executed. The decision to widen the appeal and make it more kid friendly was of course the nail in the coffin, but Tina Turner didn't help. The Thunderdome itself? Badass. A midget riding a giant mute guy? Awesome. More Gyro Captain? uh. . . well it was good, but it seemed unclear if it was the same character, or just the same actor.

 

[redhawk23]

i don't know i guesse it was that age at which i first saw it but i love thunderdome, but i agree it doesn't have anything on the road warrior.

 

[Octoberist]

Thunderdome is a weird movie because it's catering to kids, but there's still S&M guys and near naked amazons running about.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I stopped reading that article when it said anime.

 

[thejon93]

No-one said it would be CG. It will have stereoscopic 3D and be Anime-inspired, but no-where did I read that the characters would be CG.

Oh, ----. My bad, if it were CG, I wouldn't mind. But "anime"... what a bunch of bull----.

P.S. Sorry I read the title wrong, mate. It's just, once I read "Rated R 3D-", I stopped, and immediately thought: "This could be cool"... only to figure out that it's ----in' anime