14 Oct – Since director George Miller confirmed that his next "Mad Max" project is in the works and it will focus on the prequel story for Imperator Furiosa, there have been mentions that "The New Mutants" star Anya Taylor-Joy was being eyed for the lead role. Now, it's finally been confirmed via Deadline that Anya Taylor-Joy will indeed be starring as the younger version of the character played by Charlize Theron in 2015's "Mad Max: Fury Road".
Miller returns to direct, write and produce "Furiosa" with his longtime producing partner Doug Mitchell, under Miller's own Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner and Warner Bros. Pictures. Since the movie will be a standalone prequel, it will reportedly "track the genesis of Furiosa before she teamed up with Max Rockatansky in Fury Road." Theron will not be returning for the project. Miller had previously considered using de-aging technology on the 44-year-old actress for the part but decided against it, shifting his focus to casting a younger lead instead. No filming date has been set. Hemsworth will most likely first focus on the upcoming "Thor: Love and Thunder", while Taylor-Joy is working on historical revenge film "The Northman" and Abdul-Mateen II is currently filming "The Matrix 4".
(Photo source: Chris Hemsworth's Instagram)