Mad Max is a post-apocalyptic revenge thriller that proves miracles do happen. Produced on a tiny budget Down Under, the dystopian sci-fi movie quickly became a cult classic. Sequels followed, and the Mad Max franchise was born. With its big success, the Furiosa prequel will surely be an instant success!
Then, popular culture put on the brakes, and the franchise kind of fell out of favor. Until Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron revitalized a new chapter with Mad Max: Fury Road. Now that Furiosa is set to hit cinemas in 2024 with Anna Taylor-Joy at the helm, life has been well and truly breathed into the franchise.
Taking Audiences Back from the Future
Although Theron originally played Furiosa in the 2015 reboot, Taylor-Joy has been cast as the main character alongside Chris Hemsworth. Due to be released on May 24th, 2024, filming has begun, and the film production is underway. Nine years will have passed between Fury Road and Furiosa airing.
It’s not just the incredibly talented cast that has left fans anticipating an excellent version of the Imperator. So far, all the Mad Max titles have taken place in the future. However, this upcoming title will delve into the franchise in the form of a prequel: Furiosa, as well as developing the character’s story, will look into how society self-destructed and the formative years of the Wasteland.
Theron’s portrayal is significant in the Mad Max canon as former co-star Hardy declared that she stole the show, and critics praised her depiction. Looper reported that Theron had been “recast,” which suggests she wasn’t suitable for the part, yet this is entirely due to the direction of the franchise that is now looking at Furiosa’s earlier life as opposed to a reflection of Theron’s talent or general suitability.
Modernizing the Franchise Via Mad Max: Fury Road
Let’s face it – Furiosa wouldn’t be a thing without Mad Max: Fury Road. Firstly, the movie introduces the character. Secondly, it essentially provides her with a platform to highlight her arc. Thirdly, it’s still impacting the Mad Max series even though Hardy and Theron won’t appear in the next movie prequel called Furiosa.
The modernization of the content is the biggest reason for Mad Max’s recent appeal. There are top-draw performances from talented actors, yet the cinematography in Fury Road was widely applauded, hence its Academy Award win in 2016. Indeed, Yahoo News reported it took home six wins in technical categories that night, including Best Picture, showcasing how much the modern-day element means to the movie’s reception.
The fact that Taylor-Joy is the new lead is another nod to its predecessor. After all, Miller recognizes the need for a younger Furiosa to tell the story correctly, and digitally remastering Theron would negate the authenticity that Fury Road built.
Media Expansion
Another element of Mad Max’s popularity is the success of its franchising across other platforms. Hollywood is a single facet of a 360-marketing plan, and the brains behind the franchise understand this better than most in the industry.
For example, a video game wasn’t just released to exploit the film’s success, but it was as meticulously developed as the original movie. Avalanche’s Mad Max video game was critically acclaimed since it grasped the source material and what fans wanted while combining it with slick gaming features. As a result, The Gamer says it shipped 1.8 million copies worldwide.
Not one to miss an opportunity, the Mad Max series has pivoted to the iGaming sector, too, with the development of the Mad Max: Fury Road slot machine that’s available on some of the industry’s largest operators, such as 888. Like Time2Play points out, 888 is a top online slot operator due to its library that contains various slots on offer, giving it an above-average rating. With exposure from platforms such as 888, it’s no wonder that the demand for the Mad Max franchise is bubbling over.
Furiosa may be a few years away, but the series’ media expansion has ensured its popularity continues to peak when an announcement about the latest movie release is made. Nonetheless, it’s not the only reason the franchise remains fresh. The modernization of Mad Max: Fury Road was imperative, as is Furiosa’s change in direction to a world before the apocalypse that the movie is notorious for.
