Why Furiosa’s Box Office Struggles Won’t Impact the Future of the Mad Max Franchise

Essential Insights

The success of Mad Max: The Wasteland is contingent upon the awards performance of Furiosa, which underperformed at the box office.
Harnessing the acclaim for Furiosa through an effective awards strategy could reignite enthusiasm for the Mad Max series.
The anticipated prequel is likely to explore Max’s origins, set immediately prior to Fury Road, emphasizing high-octane action sequences.

At the heart of every Mad Max enthusiast is a longing to witness The Wasteland unfold with even more action and Max himself. However, the disappointing box office return of Furiosa has dimmed those aspirations. Nevertheless, the possibility of the rumored prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road shouldn’t be dismissed, as it still holds promise despite facing significant commercial challenges.

From the outset, it was implicitly understood that the advancement of the next Mad Max film would hinge on the financial success of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Although it received excellent reviews and generated positive buzz, Anya Taylor-Joy’s film managed to pull in around $173 million against a nearly matching budget of $168 million. Missing the break-even figure by an estimated $75 to $95 million leaves The Wasteland’s prospects looking grim—but is there still hope?

Mad Max: The Wasteland Relies on Furiosa’s Awards Performance

Furiosa and her War Rig crew in Furiosa A Mad Max Saga

Director	George Miller
Writers	George Miller and Nico Lathouris
Stars	Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Ayla Browne, Tom Burke, Lachy Hulme
Release Date	May 24, 2024
Runtime	148 Minutes
Budget	$168 Million

George Miller has often noted that any further Mad Max endeavors, particularly The Wasteland, would depend significantly on how Furiosa is received. It’s important to focus on audience reception rather than just box office figures, which leaves the door open for The Wasteland. That said, considering the high production costs anticipated for The Wasteland, surpassing those of Furiosa, it would require quite a twist of fate for Warner Bros. to approve another prequel. In this context, “fate” refers to the forthcoming awards season that could potentially shift momentum in Miller’s favor.

Critics have widely praised Furiosa, with a striking 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a remarkable seven-minute ovation at Cannes. It also received accolades from prominent critics, with RogerEbert.com dubbing it “one of the finest prequels ever created.”Warner Bros. ought to capitalize on this recognition through a robust awards campaign, aiming for honors at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and the Oscars, where Fury Road famously won six awards. With nominations expected for acting awards for Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, as well as technical categories like sound and production design, a strong performance in the awards circuit could revitalize interest in future Mad Max projects and attract crucial funding from stakeholders like Screen Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-DantYBIUM

"Mad Max: Fury Road" wins for Film Editing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-DantYBIUM)

While calling it the next Blade Runner 2049 might be optimistic, Furiosa could follow a similar path where critical reception and awards visibility transform it into a cinematic landmark, despite financial losses initially. Such achievements could pave the way for future endeavors, like the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 TV series and cement director Denis Villeneuve’s position for both Dune films, which were made possible due to the impact of Blade Runner 2049. Likewise, Mad Max: The Wasteland could find its footing if the positive critique of Furiosa translates into awards recognition.

Is The Wasteland Exploring Max’s Origins Before Fury Road?

The narrative strength is crucial in bringing The Wasteland to fruition, particularly with respect to fan interest. In the entertainment industry, a completed script serves as a valuable asset, and George Miller appears to have a plan in that regard. Entertainment Weekly’s interview revealed that the writers had crafted backstories for both Max and Furiosa during the pre-production of Fury Road. The story of Furiosa reached the screen first, and The Wasteland is anticipated to depict how Max was captured and taken to the Citadel to serve as a human blood bag.

While preparing for Mad Max: Fury Road, we drafted the events that transpired with Max in the year leading up to our introduction to him in [the film]. We have indeed been working on it. As I mentioned, it was initially formatted as a novella, and we are now in a position to adapt that into a screenplay, and then proceed from there.

Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy in the poster for Mad Max Fury Road

The plot of the prospective prequel is expected to unfold just before Fury Road, and Miller has indicated it will span a year filled with action. Max is likely to be accompanied by a young mother, and the unfolding story may shed light on his haunting visions of the little girl from Fury Road. This character-driven narrative focusing on Max aims to lead into the storyline of the celebrated 2015 film. However, it remains uncertain whether Tom Hardy will reprise his role as Max Rockatansky or if a younger actor will take his place, similar to the casting of Charlize Theron in Furiosa.

Upon Fury Road’s release, Miller indicated that more Mad Max films were guaranteed, with Tom Hardy initially set to appear in at least three additional installments. However, now, the future of this iconic post-apocalyptic franchise hangs in the balance, echoing the director’s previous challenges after Beyond Thunderdome. Miller faced a 30-year wait to bring Fury Road to life for numerous reasons. Here’s hoping the next Mad Max installment won’t take another three decades to hit the screens.

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