There’s absolutely no question that Mad Max: Fury Road made a serious impression on audiences last year. Not only did it revive a once defunct franchise, but it also introduced audiences to Charlize Theron’s badass Imperator Furiosa. Her character became a fan favorite, and easily outshined even Tom Hardy’s Max Rockatansky. Charlize Theron seems to realize how popular the character became with fans, because she’s more than willing to return for a future Mad Max film.
Speaking with MTV News while promoting The Huntsman Winter’s War, Charlize Theron admitted that she would love to return to the Mad Max franchise for a Fury Road sequel. She said:
To have people react to something like that where you went and worked your balls off. It’s really, really nice, it kind of just puts everything into perspective. I can see how people are responding to her and I look at my little girl and I’m like, ‘Yeah I’d love to play this woman again, definitely.
Although Mad Max: Fury Road technically focused on Tom Hardy's Max Rockatansky, Imperator Furiosa represented the aspect of the film that most people gravitated towards. Charlize Theron’s take on the character provided audiences with a strong, independent, and all-around badass female hero in an era where those have become increasingly difficult to come by. As the actress explains: it's one of those hard to come by roles that coud even inspire her daughter.
Of course, if Charlize Theron does in fact want to return as Imperator Furiosa for a potential Fury Road sequel, there’s just one hurdle that has to be vaulted: the utter lack of continuity between the Mad Max films. We have had four Mad Max films since the series began with Mel Gibson back in 1979, and part of the series’ charm stems from the insulated nature of each story.
With the exception of minor details on the character of Max, one could go from one installment of the post-apocalyptic series to another without ever knowing that they take place in the same universe. To bring Furiosa back for another installment would mark a major change for the style of the franchise, but one that fans might actually welcome.
Do you want Charlize Theron to return to the Mad Max franchise as Furiosa, or do you think that the Mad Max films should remain insulated and distinct from one another? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
We will keep you posted regarding all of the latest and greatest Mad Max news as it breaks. As for Charlize Theron, be sure to catch her in The Huntsman Winter’s War, which hits theaters on April 22, and as the mysterious bad guy in Fast & Furious 8, which will hit theaters on April 14 of next year.
