by In the prequel “Furiosa”, derived from “Mad Max: Fury Road”, the emblematic title role was no longer embodied by Charlize Theron, but by Anya Taylor-Joy. Back on this important decision made by George Miller, the director of the saga.
In 2015, Charlize Theron had marked the spirits in Mad Max: Fury Road, playing Furiosa, the implacable warrior behind the wheel of her War Rig. With her shaved head, her mechanical arm and her fierce attitude, she had stolen the show from the hero Max Rockatansky, played by Tom Hardy, and had imposed herself as a major figure in modern science fiction.
The film was a huge success, both from the public and to criticism, notably collecting six Oscars and winning more than $ 380 million at the world box office. This triumph had rekindled interest in the post-apocalyptic universe of George Miller and opened the door to new projects.
Initially, Miller plans to continue his saga with Max as a central character, but in 2020, he preferred to focus on the origins of Furiosa, thus exploring the youth and the rise of this heroine within the Citadel army: this is how Furiosa was born: a Mad Max saga, released in France a year ago, May 22, 2024.
Charlize or not?
The main dilemma at the announcement of this suite concerned the presence or not of Charlize Theron In the casting, she who had become the iconic face of the role. Playing a younger Furiosa seemed difficult, especially since the character speaks little in the recent shutter (less than 30 aftershocks). The use of digital rejuvenation technology was also dismissed: according to Miller, the special effects available were not convincing enough not to distract the spectator, as he explained in an interview with Empire.
“” “If Furiosa had been filmed before Fury Road (the script had even been written before for an animated, editor's note), it's certainly Charlize Theron who would have played the role. I thought about the question and I started to tell myself that it might be rejuvenated digitally. Then I saw great directors, Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese, stage Gemini Man and The Irishman. I then noted that the process was not yet entirely to the point.»
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Anya Taylor-Joy, it will be
It is therefore the talents of Anya Taylor-Joy, a rising star revealed in particular by the series Le Jeu de la Lady, which were asked. Present in Cannes last year, Doug Mitchell, producer of the film, rented the performance of the latter at the microphone of Allociné this time*, stressing his ability to transmit powerful emotions without resorting to dialogues.
“” “Anya Taylor-Joy is incredible. If you are looking for someone who is a real activity furnace, it's Anya. She has the ability to speak visually. Not to mention. And you know, by its body language and its expression, what it means. This is what I would call a real road warrior. It is a female version of the best that we can get from the character of Max.»
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Faithful partner of George Miller For more than four decades, the producer has expressed his admiration for the actress without reservation: “I think this film will confirm it as one of the most brilliant warlike fighters, because it is intelligent and just extremely fierce in its process, in its acting capacities. Anya is a very professional actress in the sense that she works extremely hard. Maybe too hard. She does not have the license. But she could drive a car. As she says herself, she does not know how to park in parallel parking lots, but look at her in a Rig War or look at her in a valiant. Yeah, damn it, yeah, she can do it!»
Doug Mitchell also wanted to recall the physical and artistic similarity between it and Charlize Theron : “But how to forget Charlize Theron. Anya and Charlize are similar in different respects, their ballet experience, various other things they have done physically. There is therefore a transparent part of Furiosa. And this growing rage and tenacity which are absolutely bewitching for me.»
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One, two and even three furiosa
But let's not forget that the film also presents a third Furiosa: a children's furiosa, a role entrusted to the young Australian actress Alyla Browne, hailed for her intuitive and poignant interpretation.
Indeed, while Fury Road takes place over a period of four days, the intrigue of Furiosa extends over several years. So, even beforeAnya Taylor-Joy Do not enter – which only arrives after 45 minutes of film – the story lingers on the youth of the character. So it's Alyla Browne Who has the feature film just.
“” “It is phenomenal”, Was ecstatic Doug Mitchell About the budding actress. “” “She is now 14 years old. We chatted last night with her and her mom. And again, very humble. She is terribly gifted intuitively. If you see the scene that she had to face, it takes a lot, a lot of internal intuition to be able to manage this because it was quite dark. And she is adorable.»
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Charlize Theron, disappointed …
For his part, Charlize Theron expressed a certain sadness in the face of its replacement, while respecting the creative decision of George Miller. In 2020, she had entrusted Hollywood to postpone her attachment to the character and her confidence in the director.
“” “It's a bit heartbreaking, that's for sure. I really love this character and I am so grateful to have played a little role in his creation. She will always be someone I think with tenderness. Obviously, I would like to see this story continue, and if he feels that he must do it that way, then I trust him.»
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Linked by a contract comprising three films, it remains entirely possible that the South African and American actress finds herself one day again in Wasteland. All the more Fury Road offered a fairly open conclusion for his character, now installed at the Citadel. Today, she says he is more receptive to the director's vision, as she confided in December 2022.
“” “I never really appreciated or respected the vision of George Miller until I see [le film terminé et] That I say to myself: 'Oh my God, that is what he had in mind all this time and I was not willing to hear it.' And it is therefore the only film where I say to myself: 'If I had another opportunity, I would understand a little more what he tried to do in the first.'»
Finally, for the most attentive, a scene at the very end of Furiosa seems to have a nod to Charlize Theron, suggesting a direct connection with Fury Road.
… but approves!
After the film's release, the actress finally gave her opinion during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “It's amazing, it's a magnificent film.”She added that she had not yet had the opportunity to meet her replacement:“We really tried to meet, and we could make a comedy. We do not stop meeting without having the opportunity to take the time to discuss. So we always say to ourselves: 'we meet!' And then life takes over. But it will happen when it is the right time.»
Noted 4 out of 5 by the spectators of Allociné, Furiosa: a Mad Max saga is to be found in streaming on MyCanal. To see Mad Max again: Fury Road (noted 4.2 out of 5, several choices are available to you: MyCanal also, but also Prime Video, Netflix and Max.
*Interviews collected on May 15, 2024 in Cannes by Mégane Choquet.
