George Miller‘s “Mad Max: Fury Road” wowed critics and audiences at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015. So it only makes sense the director would want his upcoming “Furiosa” to have its world premiere at the same fest, right? Variety reports (via World Of Reel) that Miller eyes a Cannes 2024 premiere for his action-packed prequel. And while blockbusters from Warner Bros. aren’t the Croisette’s usual thing, Theirry Fremaux would undoubtedly make an exception in the case of “Furiosa.”
That’s not only because the upcoming film is a sequel to the past decade’s most critically acclaimed action film. “Furiosa” also stars Anya Taylor-Joy as a younger version of Imperator Furiosa, Charlize Theron‘s heroine from “Fury Road.” And Chris Hemsworth is on board to play the movie’s villain. Miller co-produces “Furiosa” with his longtime partner Doug Mitchell, too. And since Miller was at Cannes last year with his djinn-romance “Three Thousand Years Of Longing,” it only makes sense the fest would invite him back for his next film. After all, “Furiosa” will be a tentpole for Warner Bros.’ 2024 theatrical releases, while Miller’s previous film was a long-gestating passion project with a limited audience.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” caused a critical sensation at Cannes in 2014 when it screened out of competition. It hit US theaters the next day, and while it wasn’t even #1 at the box office its opening weekend, critics unanimously praised the film, with many still considering it one of the best action movies of all time. “Fury Road” went on to gross $374 worldwide and racked up 10 Oscar nods, including Best Picture and Best Director for Miller; it won six awards.
Obviously, Warner Bros. anticipates “Furiosa” will garner a similar response from critics. But the studio has nixed rumors that they’d supply Miller’s prequel with an expensive Cannes roll-out. That may be due to the star power attached to the film in Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth, who, as of this moment, wouldn’t be available to promote the blockbuster due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. If the guild and the AMPTP agree to terms before next May, however, then it’s likely Warner Bros. will be much higher on supplying “Furiosa” with a big marketing push, beginning on the Croisette.
Meanwhile, Cannes festival chief Thierry Fremaux would welcome “Furiosa” with open arms. “We kept an extraordinary memory of the world premiere of “Fury Road” at Cannes, Fremaux told Variety. “It would be wonderful to welcome them again with “Furiosa,” especially since George Miller was a marvelous jury president in 2016. I know he’s working on the film and I hope it will be at Cannes.”
So if the SAG-AFTRA strike resolves, expect Warner Bros. and Cannes to find a way to premiere “Furiosa” at the fest. It helps that Miller’s “Three Thousand Years Of Longing” did well at Cannes last year, too, even if it did poorly in its theatrical run. The fest loves him, and they’ll find a way to agree to terms with Warner Bros. about a big tentpole premiere again, similar to how the studio and Cannes cooperated for Baz Luhrmann‘s “Elvis” last year. But the major factor here is whether the movie’s star will be available to promote the film, and unfortunately, that’s an impasse that may not get settled in the near-future.
