Ever since the end of Beyond Thunderdome’s
theatrical run in 1985, fans of the popular Mad Max films have been eagerly
awaiting another sequel. Hollywood was poised to give them one, but as we all
know, things in the movie business don’t always go according to plan. After
dealing with numerous production delays, financial troubles and post-9/11
travel and shipping restrictions, the project entered “development hell,” from
which many suspected it would never escape. However, the passionate director of
the original three films, George Miller, remained determined to carry the torch
for Mad Max 4.
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Miller’s fire has kept the light from burning out,
but there have undoubtedly been moments where it was dimming. After seeing Mel
Gibson drop out, and after enduring nearly another decade of production turmoil
under Miller’s watch, the fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise, Mad Max:
Fury Road, finally started shooting in Namibia in July, with Tom Hardy (The
Dark Knight Rises) playing the titular character that Gibson made famous (and
vice versa). With Miller finally getting to capture his vision – and with a
$100 million to $125 million budget at his disposal, things finally seemed to
be going smoothly – that is, until it was announced that production on Fury Road is at least five days behind schedule.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter this week that
amidst obvious concern for the film, Warner Bros. President Jeff Robinov flew
to the Africa set a few weeks ago to evaluate the situation and apparently the
report was not glowing. The studio has assigned producer Denise di Novi to
supervise the ongoing production and report any further problems. Robinov
believes di Novi’s presence on set will help move things along, so that the
movie can wrap on time – a deadline currently set for the end of November
Said Robinov:
“It’s easier
having someone there who has experience and who can keep us posted on the day’s
events.”
WB will also be keeping a close eye on the books,
as Miller has a history of going over budget. This was the case on the production of the
animated film Happy Feet 2, which Miller also made at Warner Bros.
‘Fury Road’ Concept Art
Set photos revealed in recent months have shown
that the money is appearing to be well spent, at least so far, as Miller
attempts to recapture the desolate landscape and the imaginative
post-apocalyptic world that the previous entries deeply ingrained in the minds
of moviegoers. Much of the expense is likely attributed to the road-ripping
vehicles and the creative, but savage weaponry that will appear in the film.
As far as the script and plot details go, a
synopsis was released by Miller a couple of months back; the story will follow
Max and a group of survivors fleeing across the Wasteland in a War Rig driven
by Imperator Furiosa, who will be portrayed by Charlize Theron (Prometheus).
The film will be an account of the ensuing road war.
However the final product turns out, fans of the
originals will surely come out in droves for the highly-anticipated and
way-overdue Fury Road. It certainly has been a long and furious… er, road for
the film thus far, but hopefully it reaches the finish line.There is also a
fifth addition to the franchise in the works, Mad Max: Furiosa, which Miller
could shoot right after he finishes Fury Road.
Mad Max: Fury Road is currently expected for a 2013
release, but no specific date has been announced.
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