The “Furiosa” hype machine is in full swing. It was already screened for a very select few critics on Monday evening. The reactions were positive. We’ll see how the reception turns out next week when it premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.
All this to say that Edgar Wright took to his X/Twitter account to post a lengthy review about his latest obsession: “Furiosa.” Wright believes Miller has made a great film. Where “Fury Road” was a chase epic, “Furiosa” is a revenge film, Wright said:
Even though I understand what it takes to make a film, I still don’t understand how Dr. George Miller does it. I was lucky enough to see ‘Furiosa’ a month ago, and I’m still reeling at how films like his exist. It’s so intricate, detailed, and immersive. The planning and love that have gone into the staging, blocking, and design are just unreal. Hats off to George and team for giving us 45 years of imaginative, visceral cinema. The movie is a feast for your eyes and ears, a full circle to the first Max adventure in 1979.
The closest comparison was something like ‘Ben-Hur’ — where a long fuse of revenge burns for years and pays off with (no spoiler) the sweetest vengeance. Filmmakers and fans will leave with their heads spinning. I felt both inspired and envious! There was a point during a midway set piece where I leant over to a friend and said, “How the fuck does he do this?”
It’s because of Wright that Miller cast Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role. Apparently, Miller saw Wright’s “Last Night in Soho,” and immediately called the filmmaker to inquire about Taylor-Joy. If you remember, Miller was vehemently against using de-aging technology on Charlize Theron, whom originated the role in “Fury Road.”
Way back in March 2020, literally 48 hours before the pandemic shutdown happened and the country shut down, I had dinner with George Miller in London after he watched an early cut of ‘Last Night In Soho. He asked me if Anya would be a good choice to play young Furiosa, and I responded, ‘Do it, do it! She’s a star, get her now!’ I texted Anya that night to expect a call from George Miller, and I’m so thrilled to see the results four years later. What a ride, you will enjoy!
As mentioned, “Furiosa” will make its debut at Cannes, on May 15, before opening in theaters May 24. It’s quas-impossible to follow up something like ‘Fury Road,’ and, by the sounds of it, Miller isn’t trying to repeat himself with this latest instalment in the ‘Mad Max’ saga.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.