After years of waiting and uncertainty, it seems that the sequel to ‘Mad Max: Fury Road – 97%’, titled ‘The Wasteland’, will never see the light of day, at least Tom Hardy no longer has hope. The news comes after ‘Furiosa’, the most recent installment of the saga directed by George Miller, failed to capture the attention of the public as expected, obtaining only US $63 million at the domestic box office and setting a quick release date. on VOD for June 24.
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What did Tom Hardy say about the future of ‘Mad Max: The Wasteland’?
In a recent interview for the magazine Forbes, Hardy expressed his skepticism about the making of ‘The Wasteland’, stating categorically: “I don’t think that’s going to happen.” These statements contrast with his previous comments, where he was enthusiastic about returning to the role of Max and exploring more of the franchise’s mythology.
In the past, George Miller had mentioned that the production of ‘The Wasteland’ would depend largely on the reception of ‘Furiosa’. Miller had been working on the script and had Hardy signed to star in the film, but it seems that the box office results of “Furiosa” have changed the picture.
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In addition to financial problems, Miller’s advanced age, 79, could also influence the possibility of ‘The Wasteland’ being made. The complexity of the production and the level of detail required in the ‘Mad Max’ films make directing a new installment a considerable physical and creative challenge.
The magnitude of the failure of ‘Furiosa’
The recent premiere of ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ has marked a milestone in the recent history of cinema, but not for the reasons that were anticipated. What promised to be one of the biggest hits of the summer has become one of the biggest box office failures of the year. Despite receiving positive reviews and following in the footsteps of ‘Dune: Part Two’ as a sequel to an acclaimed Oscar-nominated film, audiences have shown little interest in the story of Furiosa, played by Anya Taylor-Joy.
With a reported budget of US$168 million, the film has grossed just US$63 million in the United States and US$160 million worldwide, putting it well short of what is needed to reach profitability. The failure of ‘Furiosa’ raises important questions about the future of the Mad Max franchise and studios’ willingness to invest in films that deviate from traditional box office formulas. However, this setback could also offer valuable lessons for the industry about the importance of balancing innovation with public expectations and the need to stay true to a franchise’s roots.
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