George Miller is planning to make a film that will show us the back story of Furiosa, the character played by Charlize Theron in MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Although Miller had been considering bringing Theron back for the prequel and using digital trickery to make her look younger than she was in FURY ROAD, he has decided that the CG de-aging technology isn't quite good enough yet – which means he's going to have to cast a different actress in the role.
While Miller searches for his new Furiosa (with Anya Taylor-Joy rumored to be one contender), Theron has revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the idea of someone else playing the character is "a little heartbreaking" to her.
THR's Brian Davids suggested that Theron should be able to play her younger self in FURIOSA, saying that
I watched Spike Lee's new Netflix film, DA 5 BLOODS, which is about four present-day Vietnam veterans. The film also flashes back to their time in the Vietnam War, but instead of using de-aging technology or casting younger actors, the present-day actors just played their younger selves. And it worked out beautifully since Spike established characters (and actors) that immediately ingratiated themselves."
Theron replied that Miller making FURIOSA without her is
a tough one to swallow. Listen, I fully respect George, if not more so in the aftermath of making Fury Road with him. He's a master, and I wish him nothing but the best. Yeah, it's a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character [Furiosa], and I'm so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly. Obviously, I would love to see that story continue, and if he feels like he has to go about it this way, then I trust him in that manner. I feel like storytelling, on many levels, is really pushing the envelope. We're seeing shows like Chernobyl, a quintessential Russian story, and you have British actors playing all of these historical Russian characters. There's something refreshing about it; the emotional impact of the story isn't lost. But I agree with you; we get so hung up on the smaller details that we forget the thing that we emotionally tap into has nothing to do with that minute thing that we're focusing on."
The FURIOSA prequel was written by Miller and Nick Lathouris before FURY ROAD went into production, as Miller
sought to answer questions about what the character’s life was like in the idyllic "Green Place," why she was plucked from the group of woman warriors known as the Vuvalini, and how she became the hardened warrior we meet by the time FURY ROAD begins.
Miller has some time to find the new Furiosa, and Theron has some time to convince him to let her play the character again, because he intends to make the drama THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING, starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton, before he moves on to making FURIOSA.
In the meantime, Theron can be seen in the action movie THE OLD GUARD, which premieres on Netflix this Friday, July 10th.
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