Return to the Wasteland? Tom Hardy teases what’s next for Mad Max 

Over a decade after the release of Mad Max: Fury Road, all that is left of it is a lasting impression on screens. One of the most successful legacy sequels in cinematic history, the film reinvigorated interest in George Miller's post-apocalyptic universe for a new generation of fans to revere. The franchise has just one sequel, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and excitement around the franchise has refused to die down.

Despite getting mostly good critical reviews, Furiosa fared poorly at the box office, leading to a cloud of uncertainty around the future of Mad Max universe.

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George Miller's vision for the film

The creator, George Miller, has, although frequently mentioned, been vague in his comments about a potential sixth film, titled Mad Max: The Wasteland. The following story would see the focus of the franchise shift back once more to its main man, Max Rockatansky. But the question remains: would the franchise live on after the underwhelming response of Furiosa in theatres?

In a recent interview for his new show, MobLand, Tom Hardy, who replaces Mel Gibson as the protagonist in Fury Road, has finally spoken on the status of The Wasteland surrounding his character. Talking about his cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home and if there might be any crossover for Venom and Spider-Man, he said:

“There are constant talks, but it doesn’t mean things happen.”

Teasing about Mad Max, he added:

“Now there’s Mad Max: The Wasteland (laughs). There are lots of things that are discussed, but they haven’t happened.”

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A franchise with a complicated past

The production of Fury Road has been notoriously plagued with years of scheduling complications. Even after its success, legal disputes between Miller and Warner Bros prevented the production of Furiosa from continuing further. Any future entry (the first one to be officially confirmed), especially a prequel as with The Wasteland, would have to go through the same fight.

While fans were initially very sceptical of Furiosa's recasting title character, Anya Taylor-Joy and Alyla Browne gave impressive performances. Even though they were successful in portraying their respective characters in Furiosa, fans still couldn't get Charlize Theron's iconic character out of their mind.

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Why The Wasteland might work better

While Furiosa was set near the end of Fury Road's timeline, The Wasteland would be significantly earlier. Such continuity would be a significant selling point, provided Hardy returns to play Max again. Having the same lead character is a great way to maintain consistency of story and appearance, something fans would absolutely love. That being said, it does depend on the movie getting produced before Hardy gets too old for the part, as happened to Mel Gibson between Beyond Thunderdome and Fury Road.

Some enthusiasts might still insist on a straight-up sequel following Fury Road's notoriously open-ended conclusion. But even a prequel, if handled effectively, would most likely be received well by viewers keen to revisit the franchise's dark terrain. Hardy's volatile and animalistic turn as Max is still one of the series' strongest draws—and a return engagement with him at the helm would probably reignite the same buzz.

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Filling in the gaps

Miller has confirmed that The Wasteland would trace Max for a year before the events of Fury Road. The film opened in medias res, dropping audiences into the action with minimal background. Gradually, the motivations for the characters were revealed. The Wasteland might be an enriching addition to the puzzle, and will more depth without losing pace.

The relative apathy towards Furiosa can perhaps be explained by origin fatigue. Some viewers just didn't think a complete history was necessary. But with Hardy still behind the wheel and the timeline nearer what existing fans adore, The Wasteland could get the balance of old and new just right.

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A road is still open to explore

It does not appear to be possible at this point for The Wasteland or any sixth Mad Max film to be finished and made available in time for this year's or next year's awards season. This would put it more realistically into the running for the 2027-28 awards season or later, when the newly announced Academy Award for Stunt Design will have come into effect. Since the franchise has a reputation for outstanding practical stunt work, an upcoming film equal to that standard could at last bring George Miller, Tom Hardy, and their crew the acclaim they are owed, perhaps getting a nomination—or even an Oscar—for their adventurous and talented endeavours.