Summary
The next expected movie in George Miller’s epic dystopian saga isMad Max: The Wasteland,and there is talk that Tom Hardy will be replaced as Max Rockatansky. TheMad Maxfranchise saw consistent success in the 1970s and 1980s, but no one was prepared for the phenomenon that the legacy sequelMad Max: Fury Roadwould be. It is widely considered one of the best action movies of all time, with unrivaled chase sequences and subtly symbolic world-building.Hardy replaced original"Mad Max"actor Mel Gibson as the title characterfor the fourth installment in the franchise.
DespiteFury Roadimmediately establishing itself as thebestMad Maxmovie, plans for a Hardy-led sequel have been stalled for nearly a decade.Too much time has passed and doubt is spreading that Miller will be able to bring back Hardy;Miller has also expressed interest in making another prequel rather than a sequel, meaning a younger actor would need to be cast (if Max appears).Hardy not returning toMad Maxis disappointing, but hopefully, he will be replaced by someone who can give just as strong of a performance ifThe Wastelandmoves forward without him.
Release date
1979
1981
1985
2015
2024
Jacob Tomuri (cameo only)
TBC
8 Mad Max Characters Who Deserve Their Own Spinoff After Furiosa
George Miller could direct spinoffs focusing on supporting characters Nux, the Splendid Angharad, and Praetorian Jack after Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
10Glen Powell
Known For Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Anyone But You (2023), & Hit Man (2023)
Glen Powell is arguably the biggest rising action star at the moment,with the persona to match the stars of many classic action movies. Most upcoming action movies are probably at least considering him for a role. Powell was launched to widespread fame as the new Iceman-type character inTop Gun: Maverick, who is at odds with Maverick and Rooster; Hangman is cocky but a skilled pilot and knows it.
Powell’s most well-known roles all have some element of comedy, and the characters are generally more sociable than fans know Max Rockatansky to be. However,Powell has a great on-screen presence as an action starthat balances out the charisma needed to carry such a role and an overall feeling of competence in (fictional) dangerous situations. Additionally, Powell has far too much general acting experience to assume that he cannot portray Max’s typically brooding character.
9Regé-Jean Page
Known For Bridgerton (2020-Present) & Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)
Regé-Jean Page proved with his breakout role inBridgertonthat he will be the main point of focus in any scene that he is in. He plays characters who seem like they know everything and adapt quickly.Page really should be cast in more roles that would allow him to further develop the character archetype he is familiar withoutside the relatively safe and pleasing world of the ton. Immediately afterBridgertonseason 1, he won a role in the mainstream action movieDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.
If he can pull Simon’s jaded attitude and Xenk’s skill in combat together, Page could be a great Mad Max star.
However,Dungeons & Dragonsis still a very comedic action movie when Page should be cast in something more serious. If he can pull Simon’s jaded attitude and Xenk’s skill in combat together, Page could be a greatMad Maxstar. By selecting certain traits from his past roles,it is easy to imagine Page behind the wheel in Miller’s next road warfare sequence.
8Harry Richardson
Known For Dunkirk (2017), Poldark (2015-2019), & The Gilded Age (2022-Present)
Harry Richardson might be best known for playing the polite and romantic son of the newly richRussell family inThe Gilded Age, but he has done his share of grittier projects.Richardson saw a major leap forward in his career with the small role of an unnamed private inDunkirk.He might not have been the main character or really shown off what he can do as a dramatic actor, but he has had this experience of working on a big-budget action movie, one where the set might resemble that ofMad Max.
Since then, Richardson has starred in several other period dramas. His characters inPoldarkandDoctor Thorneare also caught up in star-crossed romances but demonstrate his ability to play complex, thoughtful people.Richardson is not the most obvious choice forMad Max, but could bring a strategic, contemplative nature to the characterwhile making use of his long-off action experience.
7Sean Teale
Known For Little Voice (2020) & Rosaline (2022)
Sean Teale plays something like aMad Maxcharacter inRosaline:an apathetic adventurer (driving substituted with an interest in sailing) with a moral code that pulls him into the main storyline. Dario is a lot more positive than Max by virtue of being a character in a goofy Shakespearean spoof rom-com, but Teale could adjust his approach. He has experience playing characters in much more intense adventures fromIncorporatedandReign.
Teale simply has an easy on-screen presence that would work well for Max. Assuming that his tragic backstory from the first movie is still in place, Max is an untethered character, who wonders from one adventure to the next, occasionally doling out vigilante justice.It might be a challenge for Teale to delve into the darker aspects of the character and the world,but could be to the benefit of the movie.
6Jake Austin Walker
Known For National Treasure: Edge Of History (2022-2023)
Jake Austin Walker also brings a carefree, everyman personality to his charactersthat is essentially the basis of Max. Max might have become a larger-than-life figure in the Wasteland since his inception, but still comes across as a regular, if extremely skilled, person who is just taking it one day at a time. Walker’s arc inNational Treasure: Edge of Historyincludes several similarities to what Max typically goes through in any given movie.
Walker’sNational Treasurecharacter Liam wants to focus on his music and his own life instead of getting caught up in his grandfather’s treasure-hunting habits. However, he is pulled into the adventure after finding some common ground with Jess. After this, Liam is practical and downplayed.Walker’s career has slowed down sinceNational Treasure,but he gave a commendable performance, demonstrating his potential to excel in another project.
All Battles In The Wasteland In Mad Max, Explained
The Mad Max franchise has a lot of lore, and here are the battles and wars that led to the apocalypse and the ones that occurred after.
5Luke Arnold
Known For Black Sails (2014-2017)
Luke Arnold’s four-season tenure withBlack Sailsproves that he is one of the strongest choices to play the new Mad Max. Arnold played John Silver, the double-crossing pirate who would go on to be the villain ofTreasure Island.Black Sailsis a gritty and violent show, and Silver is a character who can survive in its setting. When he is first (re)introduced, Silver is an apparently harmless captive from a raid, but soon shows his ability to spin tales and deceive his way to power.
Mad Max’s generally self-contained format means that Max would probably be a much less complicated character for Arnold after Silver.
The years that follow show Silver entangled in fraught power struggles and betrayals, becoming more ruthless as his alliance with Captain Flint deteriorates.Arnold has all the tools he needs to play a familiar version of Max,who is always walking the line between prioritizing his own survival and being forced by the narrative to help others. Quite frankly,Mad Max’sgenerally self-contained format means that Max would probably be a much less complicated character for Arnold after Silver.
4Jensen Ackles
Known For Supernatural (2005-2020)
Jensen Ackles is also a seasoned action star with an aptitude for comedic undertones that would be somewhat out of place in theMad Maxworld. However, Ackles is certainly well-practiced in remaining completely straight-faced, no matter how ridiculous the situation.Dean Winchester often acts like the serious kind of hero Max is,despite being in a completely different story and setting in terms of tone.
SinceThe Winchestersfailed, Ackles' career has stagnated. He provided the voice of Batman forJustice League: Crisis on Infinite Earthsand appeared in single episodes ofGen VandTracker. However,Ackles is also a talented actor who could surprise audiences if given the chanceto play someone other than the single character he is primarily known for. TheMad Maxfranchise has been known to make obscure casting choices — such as the relatively unknown Tom Burke as theMad Max parallel character Praetorian Jack— and Miller might be willing to take a chance on someone like Ackles.
3Paul Mescal
Known For Aftersun (2022), Foe (2023), & All Of Us Strangers (2023)
Paul Mescal is another rising star whom casting directors are probably considering for almost anything.His Oscar-nominated performance inAftersunbrought attention to his talent,while his roles inFoeandAll of Us Strangersshowed some more genre variety. It has been well-established that he can portray the subtle dramatic nuances of Max’s character. Max does not talk about his past much; it is down to the actor playing him to convey how much is going on in his head.
The only thing left Mescal needs on his resume is some action experience. Luckily, he is slated as the star of the upcomingGladiator 2.Many expect that the highly-anticipated sequel stacked with A-listers will illustrate Mescal’s ability to lead an epic action adventure story,filled with both psychological complexity and show-stopping battles. This movie will probably be all the evidence needed that Mescal can star in something as big asMad Max.
2Sam Reid
Known For Belle (2013) & Interview With The Vampire (2022-Present)
Sam Reid had a long and varied career as an actor before landing the iconic role of the vampire Lestat in the TV reboot ofInterview with the Vampire. This includes some interesting period pieces, such asBelleandSerena, the latter of which starred Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.Reid has worked alongside an impressive list of stars like these, including Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, and David ThewlisinAnonymous, the dramatic period exploration into the possibility of Shakespeare being a fraud.
However,Interview with the Vampireis the property that only recently put Reid in the spotlight and showed the extent of his talent.Lestat is a character with much more flair than Max, but he showcases Reid’s charisma and dominance on-screen. After this monumental role, Miller and the rest of theMad Maxteam can be sure that Reid can portray Max’s moral dilemmas and paramount desire to survive.
10 Post-Apocalyptic Action Movies To Watch After Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
With the release of George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, these 10 post-apocalyptic movies will quench the thirst for similar action.
1John Boyega
Known For Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) & Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
John Boyega shot to fame when he won the once-in-a-lifetime role as the star of the new Star Wars trilogy.SinceStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Boyega has had some roles in other action movies,including the newPacific RimandThe Woman King. Boyega was a strong addition to theStar Warsuniverse and his performance remained consistent, but it was overshadowed by the problems with the sequel trilogy’s story. It robbed Boyega of the chance to really show Finn becoming a more complex character.
Boyega is a solid, well-rounded action starwho has the potential to lead many different successful blockbusters. Him starring inMad Maxcould finish whatStar Warsstarted. Boyega has had the chance to portray a morally troubled character who just wants to survive, and some opportunities to show that character becoming more worldly. Playing Max would finally allow him to finish the character arc, portraying someone who is completely pessimistic about the world, but becomes its hero anyway.
Mad Max: The Wasteland
Mad Max: The Wasteland follows the journey of Max Rockatansky in the year leading up to Mad Max: Fury Road. This film explores the harsh landscapes and challenges Max faces as he navigates the treacherous post-apocalyptic world preceding the explosive events that bring him to Fury Road.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road is a post-apocalyptic film set in a desolate desert landscape where society has collapsed. Released in 2015, the story follows two rebels, Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa, as they attempt to survive and bring balance to a world torn by chaos and strife.
