Who Plays Mad Max In Furiosa

The following contains spoilers for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, now playing in theaters

Summary Max has a brief cameo in Furiosa, connecting the film to Fury Road

Max is portrayed by Jacob Tomuri, continuing the character's legacy

Tom Hardy's return as Max in future Mad Max films remains uncertain

Despite not having a major role in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the film does feature a quick cameo from Mad Max himself. Introduced in 1979's Mad Max, the wasteland survivor has appeared in several mediums over the years but most prominently in film. He was the driving force of the original trilogy in the franchise, but shared the spotlight with Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite his name being in the title of the latest film from George Miller, Max is almost completely absent from the cast of characters in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

This doesn't mean Max is completely absent from the film, however. Although his appearance is short, Max's cameo in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga keeps him from overshadowing her story. It also speaks to the underlying strength of the character, especially because he's not played by either of the two actors who are best known for playing the part. Here's how Furiosa includes Mad Max for a brief scene, and why the moment works so well.

Related Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Ending Explained Furiosa ends in a way that ties up the title character's storyline, relaying her origins. We break down the biggest moments from Furiosa's ending.

Jacob Tomuri Plays Mad Max In Furiosa

Max's Cameo Doesn't Bring Back Tom Hardy, But Does Feature His Stunt-Double

Born Max Rockatansky amid a collapsing society, Max is the titular lead of the Mad Max movies. Originally played by Mel Gibson across three films, Tom Hardy took over the role for Fury Road. However, Hardy does not appear as Max in Furiosa. Instead, the part is played by Jacob Tomuri. An experienced stunt performer who has been in the industry for over twenty years, Tomuri has appeared as a stunt double for Tom Hardy in several films. This includes Fury Road, meaning Furiosa technically isn't the first time Tomuri has portrayed Max.

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It makes sense why Tomuri was brought back for the role instead of featuring Tom Hardy. On top of making the cameo a far more expensive one to film, it would also largely distract from the rest of the scene. Max's cameo is a clever piece of world-building that connects the characters, but having a greater focus on Max would have drawn attention to his apparent dismissal of Furiosa's plight. Instead, he's just a wanderer, much in the same way he will be by Fury Road.

When Jacob Tomuri's Mad Max Cameo Takes Place In Furiosa

Audiences Get One Good Look At Max In Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

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Mad Max's cameo in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is brief, highlighting the connection between the new film and Mad Max: Fury Road. For the most part, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga works as a stand-alone film that's largely disconnected from the franchise surrounding it. After escaping Dementus once again (albeit this time after the death of her companion Praetorian Jack and losing her arm), Furiosa is forced to make the trek back through the Wasteland to reach the Citadel. As she walks through the desert, a wide shot reveals a man standing by a cliffside, watching her go.

Although the character isn't named or expressly confirmed, the costume of the character makes it clear this is meant to be Mad Max.

Although the character isn't named or expressly confirmed, the costume of the character makes it clear this is meant to be Mad Max. The car and the appearance of the man match the version of Max who was seen in Fury Road. This is still clearly set before the events of Fury Road though, as Furiosa shifts gears to reveal how she built her mechanical arm amid the war between Immortan Joe and Dementus. It is an interesting Easter egg though, as it reveals how close Max and Furiosa came to meeting years before they formally would.

Related Mad Max Timeline Explained: When Each Movie Takes Place Because of the changes made by Mad Max: Fury Road, the series timeline can be a bit confusing. So when do they happen, and how do they fit together?

Will Tom Hardy Return As Mad Max After Furiosa?

George Miller's Been At Work On Mad Max: The Wasteland For Years

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The lack of Tom Hardy in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga does raise the question whether the actor will ever return to the role. It's been a decade since Hardy played Mad Max. There are seemingly still plans for the character. While developing Furiosa as a prequel to Fury Road, George Miller has also been working on a sequel to the film. As reported on by JoBlo, Mad Max: The Wasteland was initially written in prose instead of as a screenplay, and would have been set before the events of Fury Road.

Related Every Upcoming Mad Max Movie In Development George Miller already seems to have planned out the multitudes of ways in which the Mad Max franchise can progress after Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Hardy could potentially return to the role, and has expressed an openness to reprising the character. However, reported tensions on set of Fury Road might put a damper on any prospective return. If nothing else, Max's cameo in Furiosa proves that Max has grown to be a strong enough character that he can be recast and still clearly be the same character. Max's next cinematic appearance will likely be back in the spotlight, but his cameo in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga proves the franchise hasn't forgotten him.

Source: JoBlo