It’s October, which means one of my Cannes sources is back, again teasing me with a single title that is set to World Premiere at Cannes next May.
If you remember, this same person told me last October that films by Wes Anderson, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Ken Loach would screen at this past May’s Cannes. In October 2022, they told me “Triangle of Sadness” and “Decision to Leave” had already been selected, seven months ahead.
This year? I’m only getting one title from this guy, but it’s a big one: George Miller’s “Furiosa.” Warner Bros wants it to screen at the Croisette and they’ll most likely get their wish granted.
It’s going to be damn-near impossible for Miller’s “Furiosa” to be as jaw-dropping as “Fury Road,” but I’m optimistic about this prequel to the 2015 action classic. Miller and Max are a match made in cinematic heaven. If you remember, ‘Fury Road’ also premiered at Cannes — it ended up being one of the most memorable (and now legendary) screenings on the Croisette, in recent memory.
Principal photography on “Furiosa” began June 1, 2022, in Australia, and wrapped last October. According to IMDb, the budget is $168 million. The cost of “Mad Max: Fury Road” was around the same, with estimations ranging between $154-185 million.
Taking on the role of Furiosa, originally played by Charlize Theron, will be Anya Taylor-Joy. Joining her in the cast are Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke, in unspecified roles. Details about the plot are still unknown, but this ‘Furiosa’ prequel will focus on the early days of the character, and how she grew to be the war captain under Immortan Joe.
There have been rumors that Miller would be directing the ‘Fury Road’ sequel, titled "Mad Max: Wasteland," right after the release of ‘Furiosa’ in the summer of 2024. I haven’t heard any updates, but, hopefully, Miller can get Theron and Tom Hardy back for this one.
Miller isn’t getting any younger either. He’ll be 79 by the time ‘Furiosa’ is released in 2024 and concentrating the twilight of his career on more “Mad Max” is what he wants to do. It’s definite been the passion and voice of his career.
In case you’re wondering what else might show up at next year’s Cannes Film Festival. I don’t really know. However, there are obvious titles that seem destined to premiere there next May …
David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds”, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis”, Steve McQueen’s “Blitz”, Terrence Malick’s “The Way of the Wind,” Andrea Arnold’s “Bird”, Yorgos Lanthimos’ “AND”, Sean Baker’s “Anora”, Leos Carax’s “C’est Pas Moi”, Mike Leigh’s “Family,” Paul Schrader’s “Oh, Canada,” Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Perez,” and Olivier Assayas’ “Hors du Temps.”
The source material, for the uninitiated, is Arrowhead Game Studios' co-op shooter — muscle in power armor defending "Super Earth" from bugs and robots in a war game.