George Miller spent a good portion of the press run for “Mad Max: Fury Road” letting everyone know he had the story mapped out for a potential sequel (or sequels), and he even revealed a title: “Mad Max: The Wasteland.” And while Tom Hardy let it be known he was attached to three more movies, it is unclear as to what Charlize Theron‘s future might be with the franchise, particularly following what was reportedly a very arduous shoot. And it seems that if Miller wants more Furiosa, he’s going to need to reach out to the actress who seems to have no idea about whatever he might be cooking up next.
“What’s ‘Wasteland’? This is all news to me. I have not heard anything like that,” she told USA Today, when asked if she was signed up for the movie.
Of course, the bigger question is whether or not there will even be a sequel. The film has earned just shy of $370 million worldwide, which is strong, but the studio will have to do some number crunching to see how it all works out on the balance sheets. That said, it’s a beloved movie, one of the best reviewed of the year, and sometimes studios see a lot of value in continuing a brand. Perhaps Warner Bros. will see how home video plays out before making any final decisions.
And perhaps that is why no direct overtures have been made to Theron just yet. While Hardy is the new namesake of the franchise, Furiosa was definitely an excitingly fresh addition and a presence that will arguably be required going forward. But there are a lot of steps to be taken before ‘Mad Max’ steps on the gas pedal again.