Mad Max: The Wasteland Talks Are Happening, Says Tom Hardy
The Mad Max franchise has been a staple of post-apocalyptic cinema for decades, with the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road being one of the most successful legacy sequels in movie history. The film’s success was a major factor in rekindling public interest in the franchise, which has been dormant for many years. Although a spin-off prequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, was released in 2024, it underperformed at the box office, leaving the future of the franchise uncertain. However, according to Tom Hardy, who played Max Rockatansky in Fury Road, talks about a potential fifth film, tentatively titled Mad Max: The Wasteland, are ongoing.
In an interview with Collider, Hardy discussed the development of Mad Max: The Wasteland, stating that "there are always talks, but that doesn’t mean that things manifested." He went on to compare the situation to the slow development of a potential solo film featuring his character Eddie Brock/Venom from the Marvel Comics universe. "Now there’s Mad Max: The Wasteland (laughs). There are lots of things that are discussed, but they haven’t happened," Hardy said. This cautious optimism is a welcome development for fans of the franchise, who have been eagerly awaiting news about a potential sequel.
The idea of Mad Max: The Wasteland has been floated for some time, with creator George Miller repeatedly discussing his plans for a sixth entry in the franchise. According to Miller, The Wasteland would be a prequel, following Max in the year leading up to the events of Fury Road. This would allow the film to explore Max’s character in more depth, potentially providing a richer backstory for the iconic character. As Miller noted, Fury Road was famous for successfully beginning at the most exhilarating possible point, and only gradually referencing Max and the other characters’ histories and motivations throughout its propulsive chase storyline.
However, as Collider notes, the development of The Wasteland would not be without its challenges. The film would likely face skepticism from viewers, who may question the necessity of another prequel. Additionally, the film would need to overcome the same kind of development hurdles that Fury Road faced, including potential disputes between Miller and Warner Bros. Nevertheless, with Hardy on board to reprise his role as Max, the film would have a significant advantage over its predecessor, Furiosa.
The success of Fury Road was a major factor in rekindling public interest in the Mad Max franchise, and it’s likely that fans would be eager to see more of Hardy’s work as Max. As Collider reports, some viewers may prefer a more traditional sequel that progresses the narrative beyond the end of Fury Road, but most will probably accept any future look or looks at the franchise’s unique world, especially if they also include the opportunity to see more of Hardy’s especially unhinged work as Max.
In terms of the potential release date for The Wasteland, it’s unlikely that the film could be completely produced and released before 2027 or 2028. However, if the film is of similar quality to previous entries in the franchise, it could be a strong contender for awards recognition, including the newly announced Academy Award for Stunt Design. The practical stunt work is one of the strongest qualities of all the Mad Max films, and assuming said work is of similar quality in a future installment, it would be wonderful to see Miller, Hardy, and their co-workers recognized for their death-defying work with at least a nomination — if not a win — for the long-imagined award.
As the Mad Max franchise continues to evolve, fans will be eagerly awaiting news about a potential sequel. With Hardy on board and Miller discussing plans for The Wasteland, there is cautious optimism that the franchise will continue to thrive. As Collider notes, "it’s likely not possible that The Wasteland or any other kind of sixth entry could be completely produced and released before this or next year’s awards season, so it could be competing in the 2027-28 season or later." Whatever the future holds for the Mad Max franchise, fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
The Mad Max franchise has a long and storied history, and it’s clear that fans are eager to see more of the post-apocalyptic world created by George Miller. As Tom Hardy noted, "there are always talks, but that doesn’t mean that things manifested." However, with Hardy on board and Miller discussing plans for The Wasteland, there is cautious optimism that the franchise will continue to thrive. As Collider reports, the development of The Wasteland would not be without its challenges, but with Hardy reprising his role as Max, the film would have a significant advantage over its predecessor, Furiosa.
In conclusion, the talks about Mad Max: The Wasteland are ongoing, and fans of the franchise have reason to be optimistic about the potential for a fifth film. As Tom Hardy noted, "there are lots of things that are discussed, but they haven’t happened." However, with Hardy on board and Miller discussing plans for The Wasteland, there is cautious optimism that the franchise will continue to thrive. Whatever the future holds for the Mad Max franchise, fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.
The source of this article is: Collider.
