Festivals - Cannes 2024: Furiosa Stuns with a Captivating Post-Apocalyptic Odyssey

By Mulder, Cannes, Palais des Festivals, 16 may 2024

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 15, 2024. Directed by George Miller and co-written with Nico Lathouris, this post-apocalyptic film is the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, serving as both spin-off and prequel to 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. The cast reunites Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne as Furiosa, alongside Chris Hemsworth and Tom Burke, promising a breathtaking cinematic experience.

The story of Furiosa goes back several years, when George Miller, having spent over fifteen years developing Fury Road, had already sketched out the contours of the characters, including Furiosa. This in-depth research finally resulted in a captivating script centered on this iconic character. Despite numerous delays and legal challenges with Warner Bros., Miller managed to relaunch the project in 2019, paving the way for a new adventure in the Mad Max universe.

In March 2020, in the midst of global containment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, George Miller held auditions via Skype for the lead role. Anya Taylor-Joy, impressive in a Network scene, was cast as Furiosa. Filming, which took place in Australia from June to October 2022, benefited from a record budget of 233 million U.S. dollars, a sum partly financed by a tax incentive of 175 million Australian dollars.

The plot of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga plunges us into a world in decline, where young Furiosa is torn from the Green Earth and captured by a horde of bikers led by the fearsome Dementus. Across the Desolation, battling Immortan Joe, Furiosa harbors a single obsession: vengeance.

For this new installment, Miller has reunited several key members of the Fury Road team, including screenwriter Nico Lathouris, editor Margaret Sixel, costume designer Jenny Beavan and composer Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL. Cinematography was entrusted to Simon Duggan, renowned for his work on Hacksaw Ridge and The Great Gatsby, bringing a striking visual touch to this epic tale.

In a series of interviews, George Miller described Furiosa as an odyssey spanning fifteen years, exploring the origins and complex development of the character. He emphasizes that the essence of the film lies in the impact of extreme events on the protagonist's soul. Miller, with his unique vision, succeeds in offering us a fresco as rich as it is intense.

Anya Taylor-Joy, in the role of Furiosa, shares her experience of intensive preparation for this demanding role. She talks about learning to drive vehicles and perform stunts, highlighting her determination and passion for the character. Taylor-Joy describes Furiosa as a determined figure, shaped by ruthless circumstances, whose quest for vengeance and justice resonates deeply.

Chris Hemsworth, playing Dementus, speaks of the depth of his character, a charismatic but tortured warlord forged by a tragic past. Hemsworth praises Miller's ability to create richly emotional narratives, while integrating spectacular action elements. He also expresses his admiration for the way Miller depicts multi-dimensional characters in a dystopian world.

Furiosa's action scenes promise to be spectacular, with a central sequence dubbed Stowaway involving an epic chase aboard the War Carrier, an iconic vehicle from the Mad Max universe. George Miller insists that each action scene is designed to further reveal the characters, an approach that proved its worth in Fury Road and promises to be just as effective here.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga promises to be a captivating and emotionally rich addition to the Mad Max saga. The world premiere at Cannes has already caused a sensation, and the film is scheduled for theatrical release on May 22, 2024 in France and May 24, 2024 in the USA. George Miller, with his unrivalled mastery of storytelling and action, looks set to deliver another unforgettable adventure in this brutal and fascinating world. Don't miss this explosive return to the Mad Max universe, where every detail, every scene, is imbued with Miller's unique and daring vision.

You can discover the official photos for a limited time in our Flickr page

Synopsis: 
In a world in decline, young Furiosa is torn from the Green Earth and captured by a horde of bikers led by the fearsome Dementus. As she tries to survive Desolation, Immortan Joe and find her way home, Furiosa has only one obsession: revenge.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Directed by George Miller
Written by George Miller, Nico Lathouris
Based on Characters by George Miller, Byron Kennedy
Produced by Doug Mitchell, George Miller
Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne
Cinematography : Simon Duggan
Edited by Margaret Sixel, Eliot Knapman
Music by Tom Holkenborg
Production company : Kennedy Miller Mitchell Village Roadshow Pictures
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates : 15 May 2024 (Cannes), 22 May 2024 (France), 24 May 2024 (United States)
Running time : 148 minutes

Photos : Getty Images