Anya Taylor-Joy and Charlize Theron Plan a Memorable Dinner to Share 'Furiosa' Tales

Nearly ten years since Charlize Theron starred in "Mad Max: Fury Road," the franchise continues with the latest installment directed by George Miller, titled "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga."

Scheduled to premiere in theaters this Friday, the new film serves as a prequel to the 2015 hit "Fury Road," focusing on the character Furiosa. Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the role, portraying the central heroine in an origin story that delves into Furiosa's childhood and teenage years.

Taylor-Joy recently spoke highly of Theron in an interview with CNN. She mentioned that they have been in contact since they both have roles in Miller's franchise.

"We have exchanged emails. We met at the Oscars, and she is just as kind, gracious, and cool as you would expect," Taylor-Joy said about Theron. "We need to have a long dinner to share our experiences. I feel fortunate to portray a character alongside her. She is one of my favorite actresses, and I think she is fantastic."

Taylor-Joy felt a connection to the character of Furiosa even before reading the script for the movie. She had watched Charlize Theron's portrayal of Furiosa in the 2015 film "Fury Road."

"I already had a deep admiration for Furiosa thanks to Charlize's performance in 'Fury Road.' The character had made a lasting impression on me," Taylor-Joy shared.

Charlize Theron in "Mad Max: Fury Road."

Charlize Theron in "Mad Max: Fury Road."

Warner Bros.

Miller, the director behind the "Mad Max" action franchise since 1979, revealed that he thought about bringing back Charlize Theron for the new film. However, he chose to cast a new star to better fit the timeline of Furiosa's story. In the upcoming movie, Furiosa will be portrayed from ages 10 to 26.

Miller thought about using de-aging tech for Theron as Furiosa, but decided against it. He thinks it can take away from an actor's performance.

The director feels that even in the hands of top filmmakers like Scorsese and Lee, de-aging tech doesn't compare to the real deal.

Way back, my original plan was to work on another film with Charlize. However, after almost a decade passed, I considered trying out de-aging technology," Miller shared with CNN. He explained, "After seeing how de-aging was used by talented filmmakers like Martin Scorsese in 'The Irishman' and Ang Lee in 'Gemini Man,' I realized that sometimes the focus becomes more on the technology rather than the actual performance. This can be distracting."

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'Furiosa': George Miller and Chris Hemsworth on crafting a new 'Mad Max' villain

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Miller explained how our brains are able to pick up on small details when watching human faces on a big screen. We notice tiny movements and gestures without even realizing it, and this helps us understand the emotions being portrayed. Even computers struggle to analyze these subtleties. As a result, Miller prefers to focus on other aspects of filmmaking.

That's how Miller discovered Anya Taylor-Joy, who gained recognition for her amazing performance in "The Queen's Gambit."

Miller mentioned that he was unsure who could do justice to the role, acknowledging the challenge of stepping into the shoes previously filled by Theron.

After watching another one of Taylor-Joy's films, he was impressed and thought, "Wow, she could definitely handle this role." He mentioned, "She has a unique charm - a timeless elegance, a captivating intensity, almost like royalty."

Starring alongside Taylor-Joy is Chris Hemsworth, the famous Marvel actor who is best known for his role as Thor. In this movie, he plays the role of a villain.

“This was a huge departure from anything I had done before,” Hemsworth told CNN.

In the movie, Hemsworth is nearly unrecognizable, wearing a prosthetic nose, fake teeth and long hair.

Anya Taylor-Joy as Furiosa.

Miller shared that he first came up with the character of Furiosa many years before the release of "Fury Road" in 2015. He revealed that he had already developed her entire backstory before the film was even made, although the prequel wouldn't be released until later on.

Miller explained that when creating the villainous character Dementus, he envisioned him with an almost Roman emperor nose. This concept art looked nothing like Hemsworth at the time.

Hemsworth shared that the transformation he underwent to portray Dementus helped him fully embody the character.

"The prosthetics, the hair, the makeup really enhance the experience for me as an actor. The sets and everything else involved also play a big role. It helps me immerse myself in the character I'm playing," shared Hemsworth. "It's easier to get lost in the moment and truly become the person I'm portraying."

Chris Hemsworth in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”

Jasin Boland/Warner Bros. Pictures

The fifth film in Miller's "Mad Max" franchise is called "Furiosa". The director has mentioned that he has thought of other stories focusing on different characters, but he is not sharing any specific details about future movies.

Miller hinted that just like how they created the story for "Furiosa", they also have a story prepared for Max before the events of "Fury Road". He knows what happens to Max during that time and has even thought about what could happen after the events of "Fury Road".

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" offers an exciting prequel to the acclaimed "Fury Road," delving into the origins of Charlize Theron's iconic character. While Theron's portrayal was unforgettable, the decision to cast Anya Taylor-Joy as the younger Furiosa allows for a fresh take on the role while still respecting its legacy. Director George Miller's emphasis on authentic performances over de-aging technology ensures that Taylor-Joy can fully embody the character and bring her own unique interpretation to the story.

Furthermore, the casting of Chris Hemsworth as the villain Dementus adds a new layer of intrigue to the film. Hemsworth's transformative performance showcases the power of prosthetics and makeup in enhancing an actor's ability to immerse themselves in a character and fully inhabit their motivations. Miller's vision for the "Mad Max" franchise continues to expand with "Furiosa," and the film promises to be a thrilling and visually stunning addition to the post-apocalyptic action genre.