Will Furiosa’s ‘Compelling’ Backstory Feature Into A ‘Mad Max’ Sequel?

As soon as Mad Max: Fury Road blasted its way into theaters in 2015, a sequel was inevitable. George Miller’s reboot of the popular post-apocalyptic franchise was phenomenal, surprising and stunning moviegoers all around the world. The film was a stellar example of how to refresh a beloved series, and several factors made the film an instant classic. One of those factors was Furiosa, Charlize Theron’s bad-ass wasteland warrior, who, in a welcome turn of events, outshone our near-silent anti-hero Max in his own movie. With talks of the sequel well under way, although it could take some time to come to fruition, and with the character obtaining a major fan base, it’s obvious she will feature in some kind of sequel, right?

Well, maybe.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, George Miller discussed the potential of a sequel for Mad Max: Fury Road, and has confirmed a few details about the next movie, although it might not be the next film he works on. Miller has always stated he wanted to commit to a smaller project before stepping back into the wasteland again, and it seems he is sticking to his guns. When asked if he had a plot in mind for the sequel, he had the following to say.

“Yes, I have. And certainly having conversations about it. But I’m not sure if it’s the very next movie I want to do. I’ve got something a bit smaller before we go back out into the wasteland — something that’s contemporary that we can get through fairly quickly. And something with not too much technical difficulty. Something more performance-based and so on, just to clear the exhaust.”

When asked if a sequel will be dedicated to Furiosa herself, to help confirm the rumors, Miller simply stated.

“Yeah, she’s a pretty compelling character so it would be great to tell her story. Her backstory is really interesting. We only allude to it in this movie because this movie is on the run; people don’t have much time for recreational talk. But you pick up, you have a sense of her having gone through stuff. That’s what the film is trying to do. You’re trying to put a lot of iceberg under the tip, I like saying.”

George Miller’s plans for the sequel — currently under the working title of Mad Max: The Wasteland — have been gathering steam for some time. Late last year, it was revealed that the Australian director was planning to kick-start a second trilogy with Mad Max: Fury Road, and this now looks to be the case.

Rumors of a Furiosa stand-alone film have been circulating very recently, as revealed by IGN, but the chances of this happening are unclear at this point. Tom Hardy will definitely reprise his role as Max in the future, although in which capacity, again, remains unclear. The actor is signed for more Mad Max movies though, as revealed by Screen Rant, so expect another solid turn from the British actor.

Mad Max: Fury Road was released in May, 2015, and became a revelation at the box-office. Not only did the blockbuster gross $375.8 million, and earn its place on multiple Best Films of 2015 lists — with several number one spots — but it also garnered critical acclaim and several award accolades. The film has scooped awards from the AACTA and the American Film Institute among others, and is also listed for multiple categories at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTA’s. This is a rare feat for a film that falls into the “action” category, and shows that, beneath the impressive explosions and jaw-dropping practical effects, the film has a thumping heart, which is always present when Furiosa is on the screen.

Will Furiosa get her own sequel? Only time will tell, but let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long to see a fifth Mad Max movie. After all, there was only a 30-year gap between Mad Max: Fury Road and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.

Mad Max: Fury Road is available on DVD and Blu-ray now.

[Image via Warner Bros. Pictures]