Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

In 2024, George Miller co-wrote, directed, and produced *Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga*, the fifth film in the Mad Max series. Unlike its predecessors, it does not center on Max Rockatansky; instead, it is a prequel spin-off to *Mad Max: Fury Road* (2015) that tells Furiosa's origin story. Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne portray the title character at different ages. The plot spans over a decade, beginning with her abduction by the forces of the warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) and ending with her rise to the rank of Imperator. Tom Burke plays Praetorian Jack, a military commander who becomes her ally. Several actors from *Fury Road* reprise their supporting roles, including John Howard, Nathan Jones, and Angus Sampson. The story opens in a lush, solarpunk paradise before shifting into the franchise's familiar dieselpunk wasteland. Miller originally planned to shoot *Furiosa* back-to-back with *Fury Road*, but the project languished in development hell due to salary disputes with Warner Bros. Pictures. Many crew members from *Fury Road* returned, including co-writer Nico Lathouris, producer Doug Mitchell, composer Tom Holkenborg, costume designer Jenny Beavan, and editor Margaret Sixel (Miller's wife). Principal photography took place in Australia from June to October 2022. The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 15 May 2024, then opened theatrically in Australia on 23 May and in the United States the following day. Critics gave it highly positive reviews, and it earned multiple award nominations, including a spot on the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of 2024. Despite this, it was a box-office bomb, grossing $174.4 million against a $168 million budget. Decades after the apocalypse, Australia is a radioactive wasteland. The Green Place of Many Mothers is one of the last areas with fresh water and crops. Raiders discover it while two children, Furiosa and Valkyrie, are picking peaches. Furiosa tries to sabotage the raiders' motorcycles, but they capture her as a prize for Dementus, leader of the Biker Horde. Her mother, Mary Jabassa, pursues them to the Horde's camp. Dementus tracks them down, and Mary stays behind to let Furiosa escape, giving her a peach pit as a keepsake. Furiosa refuses to leave her.