Anya Taylor-Joy is set to portray the iconic character Furiosa in the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road prequel, titled Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The role was originally played by Charlize Theron, who has given her blessing to Taylor-Joy for taking on the character at a younger age. Despite not meeting in person, Theron has shown her support for Taylor-Joy's portrayal of Furiosa.
Taylor-Joy expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, stating that she felt fiercely protective of the character from the moment she read the script. She even eagerly prepared to shave her head for the role, reminiscent of Theron's look in the 2015 film, but director George Miller had a different vision for her character's appearance.
Miller revealed that the screenplay for Furiosa was written before the 2015 movie, and Theron had requested to prioritize the prequel's production upon reading the script years ago. The upcoming film will delve into the 15-year journey of Furiosa leading up to the events of Fury Road.
Theron has maintained a diplomatic stance regarding Taylor-Joy taking over the role, acknowledging the talented actress's portrayal of the character. She expressed understanding of the complexities involved in passing on a role to another performer and praised George Miller's storytelling.
Taylor-Joy completed filming for Furiosa in October 2022, sharing on social media that the experience had made her tougher than she had imagined. The highly anticipated prequel is scheduled to hit theaters on May 24.
