Tom Hardy’s 2015 blockbuster Mad Max: Fury Road revived the long-enduring franchise and ended up becoming a worldwide success. Producing a follow-up for the 1985 movie was a difficult attempt that the entire team had to make, and one of the main issues was casting the perfect lead star.
Before Hardy, there were a bunch of actors contending for the coveted role of Max Rockatansky, both big and small names in Hollywood. Surely, everyone would not be surprised to know that director George Miller initially wanted to cast the late Heath Ledger, and at some point, The Avengers star Jeremy Renner was also up on the roster. But, who would have thought that Eminem was also a top choice?
The rapper is not someone fans would immediately think of when it comes to post-apocalyptic science fiction films, but no one can deny that Eminem has acting chops as evident in some of the movies he starred in, like Funny People and 8 Mile. Unfortunately, he did not snag the part; had Eminem won the role, it would surely change the course of his career.
Here are other famous names that almost starred in Mad Max: Fury Road:
Michael Fassbender
In Vulture’s oral history of Mad Max: Fury Road casting process, the Assassin’s Creed star was mentioned as one of the top favorites during the 2010 preproduction. In fact, he was the most viable substitute for Hardy. It was that Michael Fassbender had been so busy with movie projects like Macbeth and Steve Jobs, both released the same year as Fury Road.
Armie Hammer
One of the most controversial figures in Hollywood, Armie Hammer was surprisingly considered for the role. His previous work on The Lone Ranger should have increased his chances of joining a franchise that also took place in a desert setting, but the 2013 film’s box office failure stole his opportunity.
Sam Worthington
The Australian actor almost had the prospect of starring in Mad Max: Fury Road since he has been on the list of potential Max Rockatansky actors for a really long time. Fans know him from James Cameron’s Avatar, but since his career never really took off despite the success of the fantasy franchise due to numerous controversies, he only remained a candidate.
Joel Kinnaman
He is known for RoboCop and Suicide Squad, but he was not yet an established actor in Hollywood at the time they were making Fury Road. In fact, outside of Sweden, he is a relatively unknown star. Joel Kinnaman also did not have American agents to help him land movie gigs, so it’s no wonder he missed out on the role.
Eric Bana
The Black Hawk Down star is definitely one of the most suitable actors to take on the role of Max Rockatansky. With his lengthy and illustrious career, Eric Bana could have been an easy choice. However, it all boiled down to the concern of age that made them decide he was not meant for it. He was close to the age of original actor Mel Gibson.
