Amidst the ongoing discussions about his upcoming film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, director George Miller has finally broken his silence regarding what went behind the scenes during the making of its prequel Mad Max: Fury Road. Mad Max starred Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in lead roles. However, the duo was rumoured to have a feud on the sets. The director recently addressed the tumultuous dynamic between the duo during the filming of their 2015 film. Actor Tom Hardy played Max Rockatansky in the film while Charlize Theron, known for The Devil’s Advocate, Monster, Atomic Blonde and more portrays Imperator Furiosa.
Despite being seasoned actors who have given audiences several applause-worthy blockbusters over time, the two reportedly couldn’t develop a chemistry between them during the shoot.
In an interview with The Telegraph, their director, Miller, shed some light on the stark contrast in the actors’ approaches to their roles. Miller said at the centre of the issue was the fact that “they were just two very different performers.” He noted that Tom Hardy, known for his intense and often enigmatic persona, required special coaxing out of his trailer, hinting at possible issues with punctuality. In contrast, Charlize Theron’s professionalism and background in dance brought a disciplined precision to her performances.
“Tom has a damage to him but also a brilliance that comes with it, and whatever was going on with him at the time, he had to be coaxed out of his trailer. Whereas Charlize was incredibly disciplined and always the first one on set,” he explained.
Despite the challenges, Miller viewed their interactions as a reflection of the characters they portrayed. In his eyes, their on-set dynamic mirrored the characters’ need to cooperate for survival in the harsh world of Mad Max.
However, Miller was also quick to mention that regardless of the quality of their performances, there was no justification for the disruption caused by their feud.
Actress Theron, in the Mad Max: Fury Road, described their relationship as akin to “two parents in the front of the car,” oscillating between heated arguments and icy silence, to the discomfort of the crew. Theron acknowledged their failure to handle the situation better, attributing it to their personal shortcomings, reports Variety.
Both Hardy and Theron have since owned up to their roles in the feud, citing the film’s grueling production schedule and mutual lack of trust as contributing factors. The tension reportedly reached a peak when Hardy arrived on set three hours late, prompting Theron, who had been waiting in full costume and makeup, to confront him. Variety explains that the fallout from this confrontation led Theron to seek the intervention of producer Denise Di Novi to prevent further conflicts.
Looking ahead to Furiosa, the director shared that he has been focussing on the safety, both physical and psychological, of the new lead cast members, namely Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth. He told the media outlet that he has been stressing over the need for a respectful and supportive environment on set.
Furiosa is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, with a theatrical release scheduled for May 24, courtesy of Warner Bros.
