Mad Max: Fury Road

[biolumen]

An Aussie newspaper says Sam Worthington will replace Mel as the star. No confirmation on that, however.

Mad Max to the rescue of Aussie film industry

By Joe Hildebrand
The Daily Telegraph
October 24, 2009 12:42am

THE original Mad Max put the Australian film industry on the map and launched the career of one of our most recognised actors, Mel Gibson.

Twenty years on and Mad Max 4: Fury Road is about to restart the local movie industry, being filmed entirely in Sydney and Outback NSW.

The Daily Telegraph has learned that work on the film will start immediately, injecting tens of millions of dollars into the economy and creating more than 500 jobs.

There has been no confirmation yet of who will play the role of the Road Warrior but rumours abound it will be Australian Terminator star Sam Worthington, with Charlize Theron to co-star.

Much of the work will be done at Redfern's CarriageWorks and there will also be 30 weeks of filming in Broken Hill. It is estimated the whole project will take two-and-a-half years to complete, create 540 jobs and generate countless millions.

The owner of the Silverton Hotel, outside Broken Hill, made famous by Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior said the news was extraordinary.

"This is bloody huge," he said. "Absolutely magnificent. Silverton depends on the film industry, it survives on the film industry, and if Mad Max is going to be filmed here it's going to be just tremendous."

Industry sources said Premier Nathan Rees moved heaven and earth to get the film after Sydney lost the movie version of Green Lantern in an unexpected blow to the local industry. Producer and director George Miller said NSW had done extremely well to win the project and had put Sydney back on the map.

"Hollywood has cut its production in half. Big movies like Fury Road and Happy Feet are rare and competitively sought after in all the filmmaking regions of the world," he said. "The production agreements have been a long time in the making and Premier Rees and his team have worked like Trojans to ensure this substantial investment comes into this country. Not only does it help fuel the local economy but it means many talented people get a chance to practise their craft and lift their skills."

The first Mad Max movie (1979) was filmed in Victoria with Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) filmed mainly in and around Broken Hill. Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) was shot in Coober Pedy in South Australia and in NSW.

CarriageWorks will be used for the development work for Fury Road, as well as Miller's sequel to Happy Feet.

Miller's company Kennedy Miller Mitchell will start pre-production immediately. Filming starts next year.

"The Mad Max films are iconic," Mr Rees said. "In the hands of director George Miller, we will see one of the largest and most ambitious live action films ever made in Australia. This is a clear vote of confidence in Australian expertise. This proves that Sydney is an international contender for major film production."

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26251713-5013560,00.html

 

[Octoberist]

yeah, the lost of the Aussie production of Green Lantern really hurt them because the industry over there is getting really slow.

 

[Episode29]

My thoughts on these Mad Max news stories:
http://itsjustmovies.com/3103

 

[biolumen]

Mel still "in the running" for Max. Budget will be "very big". Shoot will take place over 30 weeks (!) in NSW, Australia. Pre-production under way. Filming starts August, 2010.

Max Is Back -- But Is Mel?
AAP October 24, 2009, 1:25 pm

Max is back and he's set to be madder than ever - but will Mel Gibson be onboard?

It was 1979 when a fresh-faced Gibson, then aged 21, took the lead in the first Mad Max movie - still the second most profitable motion picture of all time.

Director George Miller says pre-production is well underway for the fourth instalment of the hugely successful franchise.

But he was tight-lipped on whether Gibson was being cast for the movie, titled Mad Max Fury Road.

Miller also wouldn't comment on what sort of budget it will have, other than to say it will be "very big".

But he did say the movie would take the franchise in a new direction.
"I'm still in the middle of casting, despite all the stuff we see on the net and so on. I don't even know who the final cast will be," Miller told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.

"We've been casting fairly furiously over the last six or seven weeks and I've got a lot of actors to see and so no decision has been made."

There's speculation that Aussie actor Sam Worthington may star in the new movie.

Reports suggest Charlize Theron is a shoo-in for one of the lead roles. And Miller also indicated some unknowns could be cast.

Gibson himself was an unknown actor in 1979.

"I didn't want to make another Mad Max but what happened was the story took hold in my brain somewhere, I became obsessed with the story," Miller said.

"I was ready to do the film, we were 11 weeks away from shooting in Namibia, because that's where we found the landscapes, and then the war came and the American dollar collapsed and we couldn't seal it off at that point."

The collapse of filming in Namibia allowed NSW Premier Nathan Rees to lobby Warner Bros to bring the movie to Sydney.

He told reporters on Saturday the movie will give a long-term boost to the Australian film industry and create 540 jobs in the short term.

"Fury Road: great news for jobs, all the trades people that will work on it - obviously the mechanics, the panel beaters but also the cooks and hundreds of other jobs involved," Mr Rees said.

The recent rise of the Australian dollar has had a "significant impact" on the production of the film, Mr Rees said, but it has not dissuaded Warner Bros from shooting in Sydney.

Filming will get underway in the city and in Broken Hill, outback NSW, during August next year.

Miller said he believes Mad Max Fury Road could boost tourism to NSW, with people keen to see the locations where it is filmed.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/6383874/mad-max-is-back-but-is-mel/

 

[Episode29]

This is getting ridiculous.

 

[biolumen]

Hollywood Reporter has an article up.

'Mad Max Sequel In The Works'
'Fury Road' will shoot in Sydney, outback

By Pip Bulbeck
Oct 23, 2009, 06:14 PM ET

SYDNEY -- The fourth installment in George Miller's "Mad Max" franchise, "Fury Road," is set to go into production in Sydney and outback New South Wales next year, according to local reports Saturday.

Miller, who also will produce the film through his production shingle Kennedy Miller, is quoted as saying that " 'Fury Road' will put NSW back on the map as a filmmaking destination.

"Hollywood has cut its production in half. Big movies like 'Fury Road' and 'Happy' Feet are rare and competitively sought after in all the filmmaking regions of the world," Miller told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"The production agreements have been a long time in the making and (NSW) Premier Rees and his team have worked like Trojans to ensure this substantial investment comes into this country. Not only does it help fuel the local economy but it means many talented people get a chance to practice their craft and lift their skills."

News that "Fury Road" has been given the greenlight comes just 10 days after Warner Bros. announced was pulling production of "Green Lantern" out of Australia.

No studio backing for "Fury Road" was announced for the film which reportedly has a $100 million budget.

"The 'Mad Max' films are iconic," Rees said. "In the hands of director George Miller, we will see one of the largest and most ambitious live-action films ever made in Australia. This is a clear vote of confidence in Australian expertise. This proves that Sydney is an international contender for major film production."

Kennedy Miller is also in production on "Happy Feet 2" in its digital production joint venture with Omnilab Media, Dr D.

"Its been 30 years since the post-apocalyptic thriller "Mad Max" was released, propelling Mel Gibson to stardom.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i18f9fdff77fbe360c4f69e23c51a12b1

 

[Episode29]

Hollywood Reporter has an article up.

I love that the movie has been greenlit with a 100-million-dollar budget, but no studio backing. Sheesh.

 

[BloodyWolverine]

I think it be odd seeing mel since her turned down Lethal Weapon 5 and once said was done with action movies. But he should very least do a cameo. I mean they should reboot Lethal Weapon 5 with two new cops and Danny Glover plays his old role but is the Captain nearing retirment.

 

[biolumen]

That article is wrong. Warner Bros. is backing it.

Miller To Unleash Mad Max Fury on NSW.

Australian film director George Miller says pre-production work will start next week on the latest Mad Max film, which will be produced in New South Wales.

Thirty years after the release of the original Mad Max, Miller is preparing to head out west to shoot Fury Road, the fourth instalment of the popular franchise.

Filming on Fury Road will begin in New South Wales in August 2010.

And casting for the lead role is already underway, with the big question being whether Mel Gibson is set to return as the star.

Miller is staying tight-lipped about who he would like to take the lead, however it is rumoured Australian Sam Worthington and South African actress Charlize Theron will star.

"It could be Mel, it could be anyone, in fact I'm looking around at these faces to see if anyone's quite interesting here," Miller said.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees was even offered the role.

"What about you do you want it? Sorry, you'd have to get your hair cut," Miller said to Rees.

Even though he might not get that star role, Mr Rees is quick to add the project is an important boost for the state's economy, as well as the local film industry.

"The Mad Max films are iconic and the latest instalment Fury Road will be made right here in NSW," he said.

"In the hands of director George Miller, we will see one of the largest and most ambitious live action films ever made in Australia."

Mr Rees says the production is an important boost for the state's economy, creating around 540 jobs over two-and-a-half years.

"Times have been tough for our local industry and I am pleased that our assistance from the Film and Television Industry Attraction Fund helped secure this film for NSW," he said.

'Like Football'

Miller launched his career with Max Max in 1979, and has since gone on to direct box office hit Happy Feet and produced Babe.

He says this is an important step for the Australian film industry.

"Hollywood has cut its production in half. Big movies like Fury Road and Happy Feet are rare and competitively sought after in all the filmmaking regions of the world," Miller said.

"The production agreements have been a long time in the making and Premier Rees and his team have worked like Trojans to ensure this substantial investment comes into this country.

"These are complex and challenging films and funding them is a big leap of faith by Warner Bros. Not only does it help fuel the local economy but it means many talented people get a chance to practise their craft and lift their skills.

"Making movies is like football. How can you achieve excellence if you get to play only once in a blue moon?"

CarriageWorks, based in Sydney's Redfern, will be used for development work on Fury Road, as well as a motion capture studio for Miller's upcoming Happy Feet 2.

Around 30 weeks of the filming of Fury Road will take place in and around Broken Hill.

The original Mad Max was filmed in Victoria, Mad Max 2 was filmed around Broken Hill and the third Mad Max was shot in Coober Pedy, South Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/24/2723077.htm

I think the Charlize Theron leak from eonline.com a couple days ago forced this announcment today. I'm sure they would've rather waited until the casting was in place before making any official announcements.

 

[biolumen]

I think it be odd seeing mel since her turned down Lethal Weapon 5 and once said was done with action movies. But he should very least do a cameo. I mean they should reboot Lethal Weapon 5 with two new cops and Danny Glover plays his old role but is the Captain nearing retirment.

I wouldn't rule out Mel just yet. He could still have a smaller role in the film as Max, with Worthington playing the main role. Who knows atm.

 

[Catman]

I'll get excited once we know whose playing Mad Max. I think Mel Gibson could still do it. Mad Max was never THAT physical of a performance. Most of the action scenes were car chases. The thunderdome sequence in the third picture was the only real physically demanding one.

 

[dark_b]

call me crazy but i now think that Worthington would fit in in a mad max movie.

i know that he will become a hated actor on SHH in the future. but until then let him play this character. he has a presence a good voice and i think he could play a badass.
but Theron is a lot taller then him. he would look like a kid next to her.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

It will be strange seeing a Mad Max without Mel in, so I hope he comes back, I cant stand re-casts so probably wont watch it unless he does come back.

 

[biolumen]

Mel spoke with Miller recently, but denied it was regarding MM4. Thing is, this is the kind of denial we heard from him before he signed on for the aborted attempt back in 2002.

"I was just talking with George Miller the other day, so yes, you kind of keep in touch with people from back there and see what they're up to," Gibson said.

"It's not an obsession of mine. I figure, if it's great (an Australian film) then you'll end up seeing it."

Gibson denied his discussion with Miller was about reprising his iconic character in the eagerly anticipated Mad Max 4.

"Oh gosh, I don't know what he's up to," Gibson said. "Not with me, I don't think. Man, I'm a bit old and long in the tooth for that number. You need someone who can get around a bit quicker."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/mel-gibsons-back-on-track/story-e6frf96f-1225790918915

 

[biolumen]

First look at the vehicles being built for the movie can be seen in the video of Miller's press conference at the link below. What Miller said was equally interesting.

"All the vehicles are a hybrid, cobbled together from wrecks of the past. They have to be high performance because the film will be shot at speed. The reason why this movie is so big is because it's got just a huge number of stunts, and we're trying to do stuff that I believe people haven't done before. That's why we're taking so long to build them. It'll take a year to build all the vehicles, and they have to be really, really top vehicles."

http://www.abc-for-kids.com/news/stories/2009/10/24/2723077.htm?section=entertainment

^^^ Click "Mad Max director on cars and stars" link at the link above.

 

[biolumen]

A couple of screen captures I got. Video quality was poor.

EDIT

I sent AICN this "scoop" and made headlines (sort of). Thanks Harry, though you could have at least attributed it to me.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/42836

 

[san15]

I remember when I told my friends and coworkers about a new Indiana Jones movie. The first question they asked was regarding Harrison Ford’s reprisal of his iconic role. Same thing happened when I told them about a new Terminator movie and they wanted to know about Arnold’s involvement in the project.

So basically fans of the Mad Max series young or old will definitely want to know if Mel Gibson will be returning, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem like the case. In addition Mad Max was Mel’s breakthrough role that jump started his career spanning three decades. Now Mel has become a household name and his movies have grossed over a billion dollars worldwide.

No Mel Gibson no Mad Max it's just that simple. It's been almost 25 years since the last entry, but if Miller wants to generate a lot of buzz and excitement in a new installment, Mel needs to reprise his iconic role that made him a star.

 

[Dr. Evil]

I find it interesting that Sam Worthington and Charlize Theron are rumored for the leads, much like they were in "The Tourist" which will star Worthington and Theron dropped out of that film to be replaced by Angelina Jolie.

 

[biolumen]

 

[SWAT]

I've got nothing against Worthington... But I think Hardy is the better actor, and would be the best fit for the movie. IMO.

 

[dark_b]

we have not seen enough from worthington to know how he acts. at least i didnt. terminator is the first movie with him for me.

 

[Maze]

Charlize Theron to star in 'Mad' film
'Max' without Mel? New 'Fury' in Oz

Charlize Theron is revving up for "Mad Max: Fury Road," with producer-director George Miller set to start filming next August in Australia.
British actor Tom Hardy ("Black Hawk Down") will also star opposite Theron.. Thesps are the first major castings announced in the fourth version of the futuristic "Mad Max" franchise, which has been dormant for 2½ decades.


Theron will next be seen in Dimension's post-apocalyptic "The Road" opposite Viggo Mortensen.

Logline on the script, also penned by Miller, is being kept under wraps. Doug Mitchell is producing with Miller, and Warner Bros. is set to distribute.

Miller had announced last weekend that pre-production work was starting in New South Wales but he didn't give any indication as to whether Mel Gibson might return or who would play the male lead. "It could be Mel, it could be anyone," he told reporters.

Miller and the 21-year-old Gibson launched their careers with "Mad Max" in 1979, shot in Victoria and portraying a broken-down future society. The duo teamed on "The Road Warrior" (1981) -- which was a worldwide success -- and "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome" (1985).

Miller, who went on to produce "Babe" and direct "Happy Feet," announced in 2003 that a script had been written with Brendan McCarthy for "Mad Max 4" and that pre-production was in early stages, but security concerns over trying to film in Namibia put the project on the back burner.

Miller's also directing "Happy Feet 2," for which Warners has set a release date of Nov. 18, 2011.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010598.html?categoryId=13&cs=1&cache=false

 

[green]

Im hoping Theron is a villain ala Aunt Entity rather than a hero.
Tom Hardy

 

[biolumen]

The Hollywood Reporter (through its blog) says that Hardy is playing Max. Variety does not say that. It only says that Hardy will play opposite Theron. In my mind, that still leaves open the question of Mel's return as Max, no matter how unlikely that might seem now.

Until Variety prints that Hardy is playing Max, I'll hold out hope for Mel.

 

[Octoberist]

i always had an idea that maybe a new actor is playing a 'Max'; maybe is actually the Feral Kid. Like stealing his identity because he's such a legend in the wastland, and maybe Mel can cameo as the real Max.