Written by Kianna Best on May 13, 2024. Posted in Awards and Festivals

Furiosa takes over Mad Max franchise for Cannes 2024

Furiosa: a Mad Max saga is set to make its premiere at the 77^th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The famous franchise will make its return nine years after its last feature with Australian director, screenwriter and producer George Miller. The Out of Competition feature stars Anya Taylor Joy as the titular character alongside Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson and John  Howard.

Cannes Film Festival has welcomed a host of star studded, much anticipated features over the years for their Out of Competition line up, most recently including last year’s return of beloved action film figure Indiana Jones for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. This year, the festival welcomes Taylor-Joy in Furiosa: a Mad Max saga. The latest episode in the almost fifty year franchise features the heroine of the saga who made her first appearance in Mad Max: Fury Road, played by Charlize Theron.

The feature, which commenced filming in June 2022 after previous delays with COVID, shot in New South Wales Australia, supported by the local film body Screen New South Wales. The Australian backdrop has long been a big part of the franchise, with earlier instalments filmed in the Outback to create the dystopian wild western style landscapes that cater to the high octane scenes of the film.

Mad Max touches on societal and environmental themes all shrouded in the mythology created by Miller. The filmmaker’s past credits include Babe (1995) and Happy Feet (2006) as well as 2022 Out of Competition feature Three Thousand Years of Longing starring Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba. Furiosa: a Mad Max saga is a project ten years in the making according to Miller, bringing a new edge to the franchise. Alongside Miller, the project is written by Nico Lathouris, with Doug Mitchell and Miller as producers. Theatrical release in the US is set for 24 May 2024.

Images courtesy of Warner Bros.