There hasn’t been much to talk about this week but two very interesting (autographed) photos appeared online and quietly unleashed a whirlwind of fan speculation that was apparently recently confirmed by Warner Brothers as authentic. It has been known for over a year that Tom Hardy has been cast to play Max Rockitansky in George Miller’s 4th movie in his post-apocalyptic Mad Max series. Production began on Fury Road back in 2011 in Broken Hill, Australia where the previous installments were shot. Sadly terrible weather and bad flooding made it necessary for director Miller to move the production to Namibia in Africa to complete the film. What I can tell you about Mad Max: Fury Road is that filming began in Africa in July of 2012 and wrapped officially on December 17th, just a couple of weeks ago. Miller also confirmed that very early in 2013 the crew would be returning to Africa to do some “pick up” scenes and the greater part of 2013 will involve CGI and special effects work with the current plan to have the film released in theaters for a Holiday 2013 release. I know that’s an awful long way off but I love a rousing end of the world story…Sure I’ve mentioned that before. Mad Max is a legendary series with 1981’s The Road Warrior one of my favorite action films of all time. Plot details are even more scarce than details about the new Star Trek film. Speculation runs from one camp suggesting its complete reboot of the franchise while another claims this is a sequel to 1985’s Beyond Thunderdome. One scooper suggests that the movie is a sequel of sorts yet combines elements from Mad Max and The Road Warrior revamped for a modern audience. Regardless of what happens on screen I can tell you I am more than ready for a new Max adventure. The cast is mainly unknowns but I can tell you Charlize Theron stars in a major role, (it has been suggested she is the villain) and Australian actor Hugh Keays-Byrne, who played the evil gang leader “The Toe Cutter” in the original Mad Max, appears as someone called – Immortan Joe, whatever that means. The film has a budget believed to be in the $100 million range and the lengthy shooting schedule suggests complicated action and stunt sequences which are a hallmark of the Mad Max films. Hopefully they won’t over indulge in too much CGI.
Tom Hardy is Mad Max in Warner Brothers: Fury Road
In any case, with a year to wait all I can show you as we welcome 2013 into our lives is one photograph of Tom Hardy and Warners does confirm, This is a shot of Mad Max from the new film. I think this counts as a scoop! Enjoy!
The Scoop 