Mail Online (via SFFGazette.com) has revealed that production on the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road prequel, Furiosa, has been halted in Sydney, Australia, after director George Miller contracted COVID. Cameras have been rolling since June, but providing he's well enough, the expectation is that work will only be paused for a week.
For now, shooting has been postponed until at least August 15 and Miller is said to be self isolating at home. Needless to say, we wish the legendary filmmaker a speedy recovery.
This may bring back bad memories for some, though, as a number of expensive production issues besieged Fury Road. Outside of Tom Hardy's well-publicised clashes with co-star Charlize Theron, poor weather caused many problems and the shoot was hit by delay after delay. The film eventually saw the light of day, of course, and was a big hit.
As the title suggests, this prequel shifts the spotlight to Furiosa, with this take on the character being played by The New Mutants star Anya Taylor-Joy. Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love and Thunder), meanwhile, is expected to play the young Immortan Joe.
Set photos recently offered a first look at both characters, and Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth have undergone major transformations. You can check those out by clicking HERE and HERE.
"As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus," reads the movie's synopsis. "Sweeping through the Wasteland they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home."
It's hard to say when we'll get an official first look at the movie, especially as it's still a long way off. Chances are it won't be this side of the Holidays, unfortunately, but we'll no doubt have more to share before then.
Furiosa is currently set to be released in theaters on May 24, 2024.