‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ hits theaters, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth lead in prequel

George Miller revives the ‘Mad Max’ universe with Taylor-Joy stepping into Charlize Theron's iconic role.

Nearly a decade after the success of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the post-apocalyptic universe returns to the big screen with “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” 

This new installment, directed by the acclaimed George Miller, serves as a prequel to the 2015 hit, exploring the origins of the fierce heroine Furiosa, originally played by Charlize Theron. 

Now, Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the role, portraying Furiosa’s journey from her childhood to her teenage years.

Taylor-Joy expressed admiration for Theron, sharing insights from their interactions. 

"We have emailed a bunch. We met at the Oscars, and she’s just as lovely and gracious and cool as you could imagine," Taylor-Joy told CNN. 

"We are due a very long dinner, just to swap war stories. But I feel so lucky to share a character with her. She’s one of my favorite actors and I just think she’s fabulous.”

Director Miller, who has been the creative force behind the "Mad Max" franchise since its inception in 1979, discussed the casting decisions for the new film. 

Initially considering de-aging technology to have Theron reprise her role, Miller ultimately decided against it, citing concerns about the distraction from performance. 

"And then I saw de-aging in the hands of really great filmmakers like Martin Scorsese in the ‘Irishman’ and Ang Lee in ‘Gemini Man.’ And what you tend to do is only see the technology — you’re not really watching performance. So there’s a risk of distracting,” Miller explained to CNN.

Joining Taylor-Joy is Chris Hemsworth, who departs from his heroic roles to embrace the villainous character Dementus. 

Hemsworth undergoes a dramatic transformation for the role, complete with a prosthetic nose and fake teeth. 

"The prosthetics, the hair, the makeup provides so much of that, as do the sets and everything involved. It’s such a far greater immersive experience as an actor,” Hemsworth shared about his experience on set.

“Furiosa” promises to deliver an enthralling tale of survival and rebellion, adding a significant chapter to the "Mad Max" legacy. As Miller hints at more stories within this universe, fans can anticipate further explorations of these dystopian landscapes.