Next 'Road Warrior' Will ... Still Not Be Mel Gibson?
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, RumorMonger, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels
Advance word on the amazing action in George Miller's The Road Warrior in 1982 was amazingly strong, even without Internet movie sites. When The Road Warrior did rampage on American movie screens, lo, the destructive path was indeed very broad and thrilling, unsuspecting audiences collectively dropped their jaws, and Mel Gibson was firmly cemented as an "A" list star.
The Road Warrior was, of course, a sequel to Miller's Mad Max, also starring Gibson, but that amazing adrenaline-fueled movie was relegated to drive-ins and Gibson's voice, deemed "too Australian," was ignominiously dubbed into "American" by another actor. The third movie in the series, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, was a bit of a letdown, though it definitely had its moments, and is probably best remembered for Tina Turner's appearance. Gibson went on to a huge career for many years, while director Miller moved on to family-friendly fare like Babe: Pig in the City and Happy Feet.
Australian paper the Herald Sun is reporting that Miller is scouting for locations for a fourth film in the series, and production could get started later this year. Miller himself hasn't confirmed anything. The paper repeats the story from two years ago (which we reported on at the time) that the next Road Warrior would not be Gibson, and we don't have any word from Gibson that he's suddenly interested. Harry Knowles at Ain't It Cool says that he spoke with someone who claimed to have seen a script that had already been entirely storyboarded. Right now it's all rumors. What young buck could step into the legendary character of Max? Or should Mel return?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-18-2009 @ 6:42PM
cjanh75 said...
Clive Owen.
Reply
5-18-2009 @ 6:53PM
zcleaner said...
Get an Austrailian actor, not a Hollywood big name. Keep it in the same feel as Mad Max.... Low budget and raw! The first two movies were excellent, the third one was too Hollywood and it sucked because of it!
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 5:16PM
Lord Humungus said...
I agree with ^ him. :)
5-18-2009 @ 7:54PM
bull$hit said...
Clive doesnt have to comedic talent, maybe gerard butler, he got the charm and wit that clive lacks just by looking at them...
Reply
5-18-2009 @ 7:54PM
N8u9 said...
Sam Worthington
Reply
5-19-2009 @ 10:56AM
McMurphy said...
Gotta go with the indie flare! Cast a no name Australian actor who will BE Mad Max. Take a page from the new Star Trek film, then enjoy the sequels! Gibson? The dude is looking bad. Give him a brief cameo!
Reply
5-19-2009 @ 12:13AM
Matt said...
Thanks for the news, but man... the third paragraph should really be the first. The most important stuff on top, maybe?
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5-19-2009 @ 10:35AM
marinamiz said...
I´m so sorry, Mr. Miller... I would love to see another great MAD MAX, but our Mel will never do it again and I just can't buy the idea of another man taking his place... because MAX ROCANTANSKY, MAD OR NOT, WILL BE MEL GIBSON FOR EVER!
Reply
5-31-2009 @ 11:54AM
Paul said...
Actually, Mel's turned into perhaps the world's biggest idiot of late, so I say get rid of him in favour of someone who hasn't started their own religion and taken to licking windows on trains.
Russel Crowe is a bit of a tool too, but the most likely candidate, followed by Eric Bana.
5-31-2009 @ 3:15PM
marinamiz said...
Hey Paul,
actually my comment was not adressed to you, but to Mr. George Miller. And I am pretty sure that Mr. Miller doesn't share your opinion about our Mel.
If possible, in a near future, try to hold your grudge inside your own heart and get it poisoned, with your mind shut, will you?
Thanks.
5-19-2009 @ 11:52AM
juwan808 said...
Start from the beginning. Do the whole thing over again, with a new actor, new director. Why not. It ain't Shakespeare.
Reply
5-19-2009 @ 12:50PM
OsLord said...
If this is truly a Mad Max 4, then how would it even make sense to cast a younger actor in the role. Miller had Max with quite a bit of grey in his hair by the 3rd one anyways, so now the character would suddenly be noticeably younger? Would they cast a younger guy and grey his hair up? I don't know about that... I'm hoping Miller/Gibson change their minds on this.
Reply
5-20-2009 @ 11:17AM
JesterBR said...
I think that a younger, unknown actor, to be Max is the best pick. Of course, it'd be sad to see he ain't Gibson, but for god's sakes, he just REFUSED the role and I don't see him changing opinion on that. So I have to say: either a younger, unknown actor, OR Miller should explore the enormous possibilities a world such as Mad Max's world offers.
Ever heard of "Fallout" game series? As well as the movie writers kinda "bent" human history to create a fantastic environment, so did the folks at the (sadly late) Interplay, when they put a character just like Max (leather armor, dog and a double-barreled, sawd-off shotgun, so he WAS Max) dying for falling down a building. You, as the player, hears about that story later on. They "bent" Max's story to pick up where the movie (in a way they pushed) left. After that, you see a game with a fantastic environment, created to make possible even the oddest of situations. We've seen different ways of civilization and society in "The Road Warrior" and "Beyond Thunderdome" movies, so maybe the best would be to continue the "Mad Max" series with a whole new set of stories set in the same background. My humble opinion :D
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 5:59PM
Lord Humungus said...
I think if the story was like the Hero passing the torch of the name "Mad Max" to his successor. The story would take place after the Successor was chosen and The story would begin with the little boy from Road warrior now a Man meeting Max's successor. The reason for him going to see the Old man was to learn more about the old Max and his history from the now older wiser Wild Child. The Young Hero learns of the history of Max and what he must live up to. Now there must be some savage raiders mixed in there of course. I just hope it makes room for the reason why Max doesn't look like the first Max from the First three films. I don't want the actor to be Hollywood either. I think if the choice is made to go completely fresh with the cast we could see a great film. I just hope we get to see more bad guys like Lord Humungus and Wez. Out of all the bad guys I hate to like they are up there with Lord Vader and Hannibal the Cannibal.
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8-10-2009 @ 10:36PM
Daniel said...
It's Not happening For A While.
Reply
8-10-2009 @ 10:39PM
daniel said...
oh and lord humungus may i suggest something? only if it's alright?
Reply