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The weak first-weekend performance ofFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagais concerningly indicative of larger issues with the Hollywood box office. Note that the latest flick, under the direction of George Miller, is a prequel to 2015’sMad Max: Fury Road. Sure, the stellar cast that it brought together made the movie one of the most anticipated of the year, especially in the film enthusiast community.
Thus, one can’t help but wonder: What magic could Charlize Theron have woven had she returned as the indomitable Furiosa in Miller’s ambitious saga? Sadly, her absence in the anticipated prequel,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is obvious.
Despite Anya Taylor-Joy picking up the mantle with grace and Chris Hemsworth shouldering a new dynamic as a warlord, a studio insider suggests that the lack of Theron’s magnetic presence might have contributed toFuriosa’s struggles to draw audiences into theaters.
Can George Miller’sMad MaxFranchise Thrive Without Charlize Theron?
The iconic post-apocalyptic world ofMad Maxhas enraptured audiences for over 40 years, yet it appears that it is facing a major crisis. With the latest installment,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,struggling to find its footing at the box office (seeThe Numbers), an insider has recently pointed fingers at directorGeorge Miller’s risky decision not to bring backCharlize Theronas Furiosa.
“It was eight college degrees in character development”: God of War Fans Must Thank Mad Max Director George Miller for Saving the Franchise When it Mattered the Most
Mad Max: Fury Road(2015) featured Theron in a role that was nothing short of iconic, as Furiosa Jabassa. Fans fell in love with her fierce and fearless performance, and many were eagerly anticipating her return inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga.
But instead of sticking with the tried-and-true formula that had worked so well in the past, Miller opted to cast Anya Taylor-Joyas a younger versionof Theron’s character in the latest installment.
The decision not to bring back Theron has been met with criticism from a studio insider (viaTHR), who argued that the actress’ star power could havesignificantly boosted the film’s box office performance:
I think Furiosa suffered without Charlize. People who see the movie love it. The problem is getting them into theaters. She would have been able to do that.
The film’s box office performance dropped to a meager $26 million between Friday (May 24) and Sunday (May 26), according to another report fromThe Hollywood Reporter. As far asFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga’s global performance goes, it does not get much better.
George Miller’s Vision for ‘Furiosa’: Why De-Aging Technology Fell Short
George Miller considered employing de-aging technology to cast Charlize Theron in his latest film,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,even though he believed “it would have been difficult”to pull off. But, ultimately, chose to appointAnya Taylor-Joy, 28, to play the role of Imperator Furiosa instead.
“Change that grade to A+”: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’s Disappointing Cinemascore Despite High Ratings Irks George Miller’s Wasteland Lovers
In an interview withVariety, Miller said he had seen the use of de-aging in films such asThe Irishman,directed by Martin Scorsese, andGemini Man, helmed by Ang Lee. The former said the following about technology:
Both of them were masterful directors, but it was never persuasive. I thought all people would be watching is Charlize looking young and knowing it’s an effect. And as time went on and we got into litigation with Warner Bros, we had to find someone younger.
The 79-year-old filmmaker continued by stating that one of the things that most interest him is the profusion of new effects tools in modern films. However, these were not good enough tools, as Miller noted:
I mean basically, we’re following someone from the age of 10 to 26, 28, something like that. It would have been difficult.
Thankfully, Taylor-Joy—best known for being the lead character in Netflix’s hit seriesThe Queen’s Gambit—was up for playing a character that Theronhad already establishedas a major figure. Miller said ofThe Northmanactress:
She had, in that physical sense, all the makings of that character — someone who has a lot of natural skills and abilities and someone who could survive in the wasteland, which is a pretty uncompromising world.
Anyway, it seems that Miller’s decision not to bring back Theron as Furiosa may have been a fatal blow to theMad Maxfranchise. But for now, fans can only wait and see if the Wasteland will continue to thrive without its iconic characters at the helm.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is available in theaters, whileMad Max: Fury Roadis streaming on Max.
Siddhika Prajapati
Senior Journalist & Content Head
Articles Published :3309
With over 3,300 articles carved into the digital walls of FandomWire, Siddhika Prajapati excels at creating, curating, and elevating engaging stories. She takes pride in giving these stories a home and, of course, she’s got a Google Knowledge Panel to prove it!Whether it’s reviewing the latest drop on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Apple TV+, or analyzing the cultural echoes of a streaming hit on Paramount+ or Max, Siddhika is always writing three steps ahead of the discourse.
