Charlize Theron Called Being Recast in the ‘Mad Max’ Prequel “a Little Heartbreaking”

Update, July 7th, 2020, 9:44 a.m. ET: There’s some good news and some bad news. Yes, there is going to be a long-rumored Mad Max Furiosa prequel, but no, Charlize Theron won’t be stepping back into the lead role. Since the news broke, Theron has opened up about how her lack of involvement is “a little bit heartbreaking,” and, honestly, we agree.

“It’s a tough one to swallow. Listen, I fully respect [director] George [Miller], 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, “ Theron told The Hollywood Reporter about Furiosa being recast in the prequel. “Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character, 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.”

Miller previously said that he opted out of continuing with Theron in the Furiosa role because he’s not confident in de-aging technology, which would be needed for the actor to play a younger version of the role.

“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,” Theron added.

So if not for Charlize, who is in talks for Furiosa? Well, according to a March report, Anya Taylor-Joy, from Emma and Thoroughbreds, was in talks to take on the role. Still, as of now, there’s nothing confirmed.

Original post, May 15th, 2020: Mad Max: Fury Road is considered by many to be one of the best films of the past decade, and now, its breakout character Imperator Furiosa is getting her own movie. But, unfortunately for fans of Charlize Theron, she won’t be the one donning Furiosa’s armor this time around.

The new movie from writer-director George Miller will be a prequel about Furiosa’s life before she became the warrior shown in Fury Road, including when she lived in the “Green Place” In an interview with the New York Times, Miller talked about how extensive backstories were thought up for the Fury Road characters. But, for Furiosa, this meant that an entire other screenplay was written about her before the film was even shot.

With the upcoming movie being about Furiosa’s life before Fury Road, the character, of course, needs to appear younger. Miller considered using de-aging technology, which has become increasingly popular and used in films such as The Irishman, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Gemini Man. In the end, he decided against it.

“For the longest time, I thought we could just use CG de-aging on Charlize, but I don’t think we’re nearly there yet,” Miller told the New York Times.

“Despite the valiant attempts on The Irishman, I think there’s still an uncanny valley. Everyone is on the verge of solving it, in particular Japanese video-game designers, but there’s still a pretty wide valley, I believe.”

Instead, Miller is looking to cast an actor in her 20s. The director didn’t speak to who is in the running, but Variety previously reported that Emma star Anya Taylor-Joy auditioned via video chat, and Geeks World Wide reported that Killing Eve‘s Jodie Comer is being considered.

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Regardless of who ends up filling Theron’s combat boots, it will be quite some time before this movie is released. Miller is in the middle of working on Three Thousand Years of Longing starring Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba, but production has been pushed back due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Miller explained to the New York Times, “After we finish it, and hopefully everything settles down with the pandemic, we’ll see what the world allows us to do with Furiosa.” Until then, cue your fan-casting.