Clashes and feuds between co-stars are not unheard of, frequently leading to conflicts on and off-screen. One case that garnered a great deal of attention was the infamous feud between Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron during the making of the critically acclaimed 2015 film, Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite speculation and controversy, the Venom star appeared to have graciously accepted his role’s significance while acknowledging the importance of Theron’s character (Furiosa), as evidenced by the film’s title.
Hardy stated in an interview that he thought the movie represented a shift in power between his character and Furiosa within the context of the franchise. He even applauded George Miller for his choice to broaden the franchise’s scope and give it more depth than just the titular character.
Mad Max: Fury Road: Tom Hardy Acknowledged Furiosa’s Dominance?
Mad Max: Fury Road, a box office success and six-time Oscar winner for director George Miller’s skillful work, is now regarded as one of the best action films of the twenty-first century. But the route there was not an easy one. The movie finally came to light after several years of planning and postponement, difficult filming in Namibia’s desert, and rumors of fights between Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron on set.
The 120-minute film was basically about Furiosa, so naturally, Hardy was thrilled to be a part of it, as he said in an interview with Esquire magazine. Miller was commended by the Flood actor for choosing to expand the franchise’s horizons and add more nuance outside of the protagonist.
“That was ultimately Furiosa’s movie, which was fantastic. ‘Fury Road.’ Furiosa. It was in the title. It was interesting how that one unpacked. If you look at it now, it was a changeover of hands in a way, from Mad Max to Furiosa. That’s what they’re filming now. ‘Furiosa.’ It was a very well implemented changing of the guard. [Miller’s] still got Mad Max, but he’s split his feed between two characters, and that’s really, really cool.”
According to Hardy, the film marked a sea change for both Furiosa and his character within the franchise. Even though he has positive recollections of Mad Max: Fury Road, the film’s production was far from easy. He appears to have accepted his fate following his bout with Theron before their infamous feud made headlines.
When Tom Hardy & Charlize Theron’s Infamous Feud Made Headlines
Tom Hardy and his Mad Max: Fury Road co-star Charlize Theron made headlines after talking about their rumored on-set argument. Since admitting that they were the ones who caused the tension on set, both stars have expressed regret.
As Theron stated to The New York Times:
“In retrospect, I didn’t have enough empathy to really, truly understand what he must have felt like to step into Mel Gibson’s shoes. That is frightening! And I think because of my own fear, we were putting up walls to protect ourselves instead of saying to each other, ‘This is scary for you, and it’s scary for me, too. Let’s be nice to each other.’ In a weird way, we were functioning like our characters: Everything was about survival.”
Meanwhile, the London-born Hardy agreed, saying:
“I think in hindsight, I was in over my head in many ways. The pressure on both of us was overwhelming at times. What she needed was a better, perhaps more experienced, partner in me. That’s something that can’t be faked. I’d like to think that now that I’m older and uglier, I could rise to that occasion.”
Even though Hardy and Theron were rumored to be at odds, their ability to work well together on screen reflected their dedication to providing a standout performance. In the end, their professionalism captured the essence of Hollywood collaboration and helped the movie succeed both critically and commercially. The film took home six of the 88th Academy Awards’ ten nominations.
Venom 3, an upcoming superhero film produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment, is Hardy’s next endeavor. As the sequel to Venom and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, it is planned to be the sixth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.
You can stream Mad Max: Fury Road on Max.
