Warner Bros. has castThe New Mutantsstar Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role of director George Miller’sMad Max: Fury Roadprequel titledFuriosa. Taylor-Joy will be joined byThor: Love and Thunderstar Chris Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II ofAquamanandWatchmenfame.
In addition to helmingFuriosa, Miller will return to co-write and produce theMax Max: Fury Roadprequel alongside his producing partner Doug Mitchell. The film will be produced through the duo’s Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner in partnership with Warner Bros.
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Taylor-Joy will portray a younger version of Furiosa, a role previously portrayed by Charlize Theron inFury Road. The roles of Hemsworth and Abdul-Mateen II have not been disclosed. Miller previously announced plans toproduce more films in theMad Maxfranchisefollowing the success ofFury Roadand had developed origin stories for each character in the film while preparing the script with co-writer Nick Lathouris.Furiosawill mark Miller’s fifth time returning to the franchise after previously directing all four installments of theMad Maxfilm series.
TheMad Maxfranchise follows the exploits of police officer Max Rockatansky, played by Mel Gibson in the first three films and then by Tom Hardy inFury Road, in a dystopian society facing war and a shortage of resources. Theron’s Furiosa was introduced as a war captain serving underthe cruel leader Immortan Joe. However, Furiosa forms an uneasy but effective alliance with Max after turning on Joe to free his concubines.
Miller had previously considered using de-aging technology to bring back Theron for the prequel but felt the result didn’t measure up to his expectations. WhileTheron has admitted to being heartbrokenby the decision, she added that she trusts Miller’s judgment on the matter.
Taylor-Joy was beingeyed for a role inFuriosaas far back as March of this year. In addition to her role as Illyana Rasputin inThe New Mutants, Taylor-Joy is known for portraying Casey Cooke in M. Night Shyamalan’sSplitandGlass, both sequels toUnbreakable.
