The following contains spoilers for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, now playing in theaters
Summary
Despite not having a major role inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, the film does feature a quick cameo from Mad Max himself. Introduced in 1979’sMad Max, the wasteland survivor has appeared in several mediums over the years but most prominently in film. He was the driving force of the original trilogy in the franchise, but shared the spotlight with Furiosa inMad Max: Fury Road. Despite his name being in the title of the latest film from George Miller, Max is almost completely absent fromthe cast of characters inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga.
This doesn’t mean Max is completely absent from the film, however. Although his appearance is short,Max’s cameo inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagakeeps him from overshadowing her story. It also speaks to the underlying strength of the character, especially because he’s not played by either of the two actors who are best known for playing the part. Here’s howFuriosaincludes Mad Max for a brief scene, and why the moment works so well.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Ending Explained
Furiosa ends in a way that ties up the title character’s storyline, relaying her origins. We break down the biggest moments from Furiosa’s ending.
Max’s Cameo Doesn’t Bring Back Tom Hardy, But Does Feature His Stunt-Double
Born Max Rockatansky amid a collapsing society, Max is the titular lead of theMad Maxmovies. Originally played by Mel Gibson across three films, Tom Hardy took over the role forFury Road. However, Hardy does not appear as Max inFuriosa. Instead, the part is played by Jacob Tomuri. An experienced stunt performer who has been in the industry for over twenty years,Tomuri has appeared as a stunt double for Tom Hardy in several films. This includesFury Road, meaningFuriosatechnically isn’t the first time Tomuri has portrayed Max.
It makes sense why Tomuri was brought back for the role instead of featuring Tom Hardy. On top of making the cameo a far more expensive one to film, it would also largely distract from the rest of the scene.Max’s cameo is a clever piece of world-building that connects the characters, but having a greater focus on Max would have drawn attention to his apparent dismissal of Furiosa’s plight. Instead, he’s just a wanderer, much in the same way he will be byFury Road.
Mad Max’s cameo inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagais brief, highlighting the connection between the new film andMad Max: Fury Road. For the most part,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaworks as a stand-alone film that’s largely disconnected from the franchisesurrounding it. After escaping Dementus once again (albeit this time after the death of her companion Praetorian Jack and losing her arm), Furiosa is forced to make the trek back through the Wasteland to reach the Citadel. As she walks through the desert, a wide shot reveals a man standing by a cliffside, watching her go.
Although the character isn’t named or expressly confirmed, the costume of the character makes it clear this is meant to be Mad Max.
Although the character isn’t named or expressly confirmed, the costume of the character makes it clear this is meant to be Mad Max. The car and the appearance of the man match the version of Max who was seen inFury Road.This is still clearly set before the events ofFury Roadthough, asFuriosashifts gears to reveal how she built her mechanical arm amid the war between Immortan Joe and Dementus. It is an interesting Easter egg though, as it reveals how close Max and Furiosa came to meeting years before they formally would.
Mad Max Timeline Explained: When Each Movie Takes Place
Because of the changes made by Mad Max: Fury Road, the series timeline can be a bit confusing. So when do they happen, and how do they fit together?
The lack of Tom Hardy inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagadoes raise the question whether the actor will ever return to the role. It’s been a decade since Hardy played Mad Max. There are seemingly still plans for the character. While developingFuriosaas a prequel toFury Road, George Miller has also been working on a sequel to the film. As reported on byJoBlo,Mad Max: The Wastelandwas initially written in prose instead of as a screenplay, and would have been set before the events ofFury Road.
Every Upcoming Mad Max Movie In Development
George Miller already seems to have planned out the multitudes of ways in which the Mad Max franchise can progress after Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Hardy could potentially return to the role, and has expressed an openness to reprising the character. However, reported tensions on set ofFury Roadmight put a damper on any prospective return. If nothing else, Max’s cameo inFuriosaproves that Max has grown to be a strong enough character that he can be recast and still clearly be the same character. Max’s next cinematic appearance will likely be back in the spotlight, but his cameo inFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaproves the franchise hasn’t forgotten him.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Cast
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
