The Future of Furiosa: Analyzing the Impact of a Teased Mad Max Cameo on Anya Taylor-Joy's Spinoff

While Furiosa’s director hinted at a possible major cameo in the Mad Max spinoff, including it may not be beneficial for the franchise’s future. The timeline of the Mad Max movies is quite ambiguous. The original 1979 Mad Max is set in a near-future world on the brink of societal collapse, yet still recognizable. The sequels, The Road Warrior and Beyond Thunderdome, are set in a post-apocalyptic world where only a few tribes of survivors struggle to survive in the harsh desert. The 2015 reboot, Fury Road, did not provide any clear answers regarding the timeline.

It was initially unclear whether Fury Road was set before The Road Warrior or after Beyond Thunderdome. The proposed spinoff, Furiosa, appeared to have the potential to shed light on this issue. The prequel, focusing on the backstory of Furiosa from Fury Road, delves into the earlier events in the franchise's timeline. However, the trailer for Furiosa indicated that the spinoff would take place after the franchise's unspecified apocalypse, failing to provide further clarity on the timeline. Moreover, director George Miller hinted at the possibility of Mad Max making an appearance in the film during a CCXP23 panel, a move that could have negative consequences.

Max Appearing In Furiosa Risks Creating A Fury Road Plot Hole

Mad Max appearing would just be a distraction

Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) looking determined and ready for action on poster for Furiosa - Mad Max appearing would just be a distraction - Max Appearing In Furiosa Risks Creating A Fury Road Plot Hole

When asked about the setting of Furiosa, Miller revealed during a CCXP23 panel that the film is set "15 years directly before Mad Max: Fury Road." He also teased the possibility of Mad Max making an appearance in Furiosa, suggesting that Max is "Lurking around somewhere in this story." While a crossover sounds exciting, it could potentially detract from Furiosa's own storyline. Introducing Mad Max into Furiosa might create confusion in the franchise timeline. The trailer for Furiosa indicates that the movie is set 45 years after the collapse, whereas Mad Max was portrayed as a young man before the apocalypse.

Furiosa Doesn't Need Max (Even If The Franchise Does)

If Furiosa takes place 15 years before Fury Road, Max should technically be in his ‘80s by then. This sort of inconsistency is easy to ignore in a standalone classic like Fury Road, but if Furiosa draws attention to Max’s presence this could ruin the prequel. Moreover, Fury Road was primarily praised precisely because the movie focused on Furiosa’s fresh, original story more than Max’s return. As such, it would be bitterly ironic if the heroine’s own movie was overshadowed by Max’s presence, and it would be tough for Furiosa to reveal that Max and Furiosa met before without this distracting viewers.

Furiosa is confident enough to stand on her own

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road Black and Chrome edition - Furiosa is confident enough to stand on her own - Furiosa Doesn't Need Max (Even If The Franchise Does)

Tom Hardy may not reprise his role as Mad Max in a new sequel, so casting a younger version of Max could be a good idea. However, this is not necessary for Furiosa. The question of whether a new star is needed for Mad Max 5: The Wasteland should be answered by the sequel itself, while Furiosa should concentrate on its own main character. Furiosa became a standout in Fury Road because fans wanted more of her, so the first prequel in the franchise should deliver on this expectation. Otherwise, the original hero of the Mad Max series could unintentionally overshadow its spinoff, Furiosa.

Editor's P/S:

The article thoroughly analyzes the potential pitfalls of including Mad Max in the upcoming spinoff film, Furiosa. It highlights the inconsistencies it could create within the franchise's timeline, as well as the risk of overshadowing Furiosa's own narrative. The author argues that Furiosa is a strong character who deserves her own spotlight, and that Max's presence could only serve as a distraction.

Overall, the article presents a compelling case against including Mad Max in Furiosa. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of both the prequel and the franchise as a whole. By focusing on Furiosa's backstory and further developing her character, the spinoff has the potential to stand on its own without relying on the presence of Max.