Summary:
- Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth are included in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” cast, playing the protagonist and antagonist of the movie.
- The film’s director, George Miller, recently explained why he chose Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth for the job.
- Anya Taylor-Joy was recast for young Furiosa thanks to her ballet root, the same as Charlize Theron.
George Miller, the visionary behind “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” has opened up about his decision to cast Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth in the lead roles for the highly anticipated prequel to “Mad Max: Fury Road.” Set years before the events of “Fury Road,” the film explores a young Furiosa’s harrowing journey after being captured by the menacing Warlord Dementus and his biker horde.
Both Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth were introduced in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”‘s official trailer last year as young Furiosa and Dementus, respectively. Especially, the decision to replace Charlize Theron with Taylor-Joy to portray a younger version of Furiosa initially caused some mixed reactions among the fandom.
At CinemaCon 2024, Miller shared the inspiration behind these casting choices. It seems that Taylor-Joy’s mesmerizing performance in “Last Night in Soho” caught Miller’s eye, sealing her fate as the younger Furiosa, a role previously inhabited by Charlize Theron.
According to Miller, he was captivated by Taylor-Joy’s ethereal yet relatable presence, alongside her rigorous discipline rooted in her background as a ballet dancer—a trait she shares with Theron. This discipline, Miller notes, is crucial for embodying Furiosa’s physical and emotional complexities.
“Well, they are both absolutely superb. Anya is — Edgar Wright showed me Last Night in Soho just before it was released. I saw Anya in that, and I said, “She’d be good for” — and he said, “Do it, do it.” Without me even telling him what it was, he said, “Do it. She’s great. She’s great.” There’s something about her, it’s almost difficult to put it in to words. There’s something mystical about her, and yet there’s an accessibility,” said the director.
“…I learned that she was somebody who is very, very disciplined, and she’s very young. She was a ballet dancer, Charlize was a ballet dancer. I worked on Happy Feet with a lot of brilliant dancers, and I understand the physical discipline, as well as emotional discipline they have. So, all of that led to Anya being Furiosa,” Miller added.
The veteran visionary of the Mad Max franchise also shared his thoughts about his Hemsworth casting, who’s no stranger to such action-packed roles.
“In terms of Chris, I knew the character, I never thought of Chris until we met and we talked. I realized he was somebody with a lot more [ideas] than I initially thought of him…So, I thought, “Well, I can’t wait to see [what he does].” He [resonated] really well with the material, so I thought, “Let’s just see what he can do with it.”
Opting against the use of de-aging technology for Theron, Miller felt a fresh face for Furiosa was essential to maintain the film’s immersive experience. Taylor-Joy’s prior roles, particularly her compelling portrayal in “Last Night in Soho,” along with her singing talent, have impressed Miller greatly, and thus solidified her as the ideal choice for Furiosa.
Taylor-Joy and Theron’s shared ballet background is a crucial element to Furiosa’s character as it provides the foundation they need to perform the intense actions in the movie, while also maintaining the “emotional discipline,” as Miller suggested.
As for Hemsworth, known for his iconic role as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Furiosa” presents an opportunity to subvert expectations by exploring the darker, villainous side of Dementus. Hemsworth’s proven comedic talent, showcased in recent Thor installments and the Men In Black sequel, hints at a multifaceted villain who blends menace with a touch of unhinged humor, a must-have for a Mad Max antagonist.
Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth will embody these complex characters, making the upcoming “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” one of the most anticipated films on the post-apocalyptic horizon. The spinoff movie is set to release this May 24.
