With approximately $375 million worldwide and 10 Oscar nominations (with six wins), Mad Max: Fury Road was a critical and financial success. The Mad Max franchise’s first three movies starred Mel Gibson. It then extended to include another film with Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.
Now that Gibson is no longer a part of the series, he has passed on his legacy to Tom Hardy and has blessed him in the best way possible. Although, the ease of slipping Mel Gibson’s face onto Tom Hardy’s body does speak to just how good of a casting Hardy was in the first place. While he doesn’t mimic his predecessor slavishly, you don’t feel weirded out when watching Gibson’s face mapped onto his movements.
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What Mel Gibson had to say about Tom Hardy taking forward his iconic role
The controversy surrounding Gibson led writer-director George Miller to replace the part. Additionally, he desired Max’s continued youth. “We were going to do it with Mel and we were within reach of doing it with Mel,” Miller told the Huffington Post. “Then 9/11 happened and the American dollar fell against the Australian dollar,” he added. Gibson was too old to reprise his role when they were ready to film.
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To consider taking forward the memorable performance of Max, Tom Hardy met with Mel Gibson. In 2015, Hardy said to Details (via IndieWire), “He was bored with me. He said, ‘All right, buddy, good luck with that.’” Additionally, the Venom star claimed Gibson effectively put in a good word for him. “He called up my agent and said, ‘I think you found someone that’s crazier than I am.’”
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Gibson also went to the Los Angeles premiere. Miller soon disclosed the actor’s opinions at a press conference during the Cannes Film Festival:
“Mel was at the premiere of the movie, and I sat next to him. Mel is someone who, in a sense, cannot lie. And he started chuckling during the movie and I thought, ‘There’s that chuckle I remember!’ Mel kept chuckling, and he started digging me in the ribs. He gave me great perspective because he is a great actor, but in the end, he is a really great director.”
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Gibson then shared his thoughts with reference to the Fury Road. He said, “It’s visually spectacular. It’s crazy, but that’s George. He’s a scientist. He’s the Einstein of edit, and of being able to get the pieces necessary to make a truly compelling, in-your-face action sequence.”
Another movie – Mad Max: The Wasteland is currently in production following the release of Fury Road. This flick will is going to hit theatres on June 23, 2023, and will bring back Tom Hardy to reprise his role as Max.
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