Mad Max 4 still on?

Although the Iraq War got sand in the motor of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and put it on blocks, in the years since then we’ve heard occasional rumblings that there’s still a bit of juice in the last of the V8 Interceptors.

Director George Miller has mentioned the possibility of making a “sequel” of post-apocalyptic ex-lawman Mad Max Rockatansky as either a videogame or an animated project (thereby circumventing the need for Mel Gibson’s return), but there have also been rumors that Miller has scouted locations and dusted off some of the vehicles originally constructed for FURY ROAD.

Now the Modesto Bee (via AICN) spoke with THE HURT LOCKER star Jeremy Renner, who talked about his upcoming plans (including Ben Affleck’s next) and gave up this: “I’m also fighting to do the new Mad Max film with George Miller. That might be next summer. I’m screen-testing and meeting George Miller.”

Hmmm. So obviously there’s still fuel in that tank. Unfortunately it seems unlikely that original star Mel Gibson would wear the leathers again, which raises the questions of whether they are re-casting the role, or if Miller’s planned movie is just set in the MAD MAX “universe” with new main characters? And would Renner be a serviceable Max replacement?