Is Mad Max in Furiosa?

With George Miller's Furiosa, a prequel to Fury Road hitting theaters, fans are probably wondering if Tom Hardy's Mad Max makes an appearance. After all, Anya Taylor-Joy is playing a younger version of Charlize Theron's character in Fury Road.

Does Furiosa have a Mad Max cameo?

In one of Furiosa's strangest moments, Mad Max seemingly appears. In the film's third act, it cuts away to a shot atop a cliff. It's eerily reminiscent of how Fury Road introduced Hardy's iteration of the character.

However, only the character's back is seen. It is unclear if Hardy actually came on set to reprise the role or if it's a body double (or even reused footage).

The cameo also muddles Fury Road. Mad Max and Furiosa seemingly meet for the first time in Fury Road. However, the prequel now indicates that he at least knew of her ahead of the events of the film.

Cameos can be a fun way of bringing excitement to a film. And plus, who wouldn't want more of Tom Hardy? In this case, though, it creates confusion in the film's canon.

What this sets up for the Mad Max franchise remains to be seen. Since Furiosa seemingly takes place close to the events of Fury Road, it's unknown if Taylor-Joy and Hardy will ever meet on-screen.

What is Furiosa about?

Furiosa is a new spin-off prequel in the Mad Max franchise and the fifth overall film installment. George Miller directed the film and co-wrote the script with Nico Lathouris.

It follows a young Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) after she is abducted by the Biker Horde led by Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). Years later, she is seeking revenge. With the help of Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke), she goes after him.

Who are Tom Hardy, Anya Taylor-Joy?

Hardy first gained notoriety for his performance in Black Hawk Down. He has since starred in Christopher Nolan films such as Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Dunkirk. Hardy further gained notoriety for his role in Peaky Blinders.

Additionally, Hardy has led the Venom series for Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The two films have grossed over $1 billion at the box office cumulatively. A third, The Last Dance, will be released in fall 2024.

Anya Taylor-Joy was also featured in Peaky Blinders for a period of time. She first gained notoriety for her performance in Robert Eggers' directorial debut, The Witch. She later starred in his film The Northman.

Since then, she has given an award-winning performance in The Queen's Gambit. Taylor-Joy also starred in the likes of Split (and its sequel, Glass), Emma, Last Night in Soho, and The Menu.

In 2023, Taylor-Joy voiced Princess Peach in The Super Mario Bros Movie. The film was a huge hit, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of the entire year.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is in theaters.