Will the expectations formed in advance be a boon or a bane for the movie’s box office performance?
Directed by George Miller, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, which was released in 2015 and drew an audience of 3.93 million in South Korea alone, according to the Integrated Computer Network for Cinema Admission Tickets. The new film prominently features the warrior Furiosa, who, along with protagonist Max (Tom Hardy), stood against the dictator Immortan Joe. It delves into how she overcame severe trials, including losing an arm, to become a warrior.
Director George Miller chose South Korea as the first place to introduce his work before its release. At a footage screening and press conference held on the 15th at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, the director personally explained why he focuses on the Mad Max series and how Furiosa differs from previous installments.
The footage shown on the day from Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga consisted of two parts. It revealed a post-nuclear war world, 45 years later, devastated and ruled by water-controlling dictator Immortan Joe (played by Hugh Keays-Byrne) and villain Timentus (Chris Hemsworth), where a young Furiosa encounters a new beginning. As time progresses, an adult Furiosa (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) escapes from the dictator and seizes a combat truck in a thrilling action scene.
Especially striking were the breathtaking action sequences featuring Furiosa in a speeding combat truck. The director, aware of what drew audiences to Mad Max: Fury Road, continues the series’ allure while introducing new weapons and characters for additional spectacle.
The footage screening was held on an IMAX screen. As a result, the film’s overwhelming speed and thrilling action were effectively conveyed, even with only a tiny portion of the footage revealed. A surge in pre-booking rates is expected as audiences who want to see the movie on an IMAX screen make concentrated choices.
While the overall spectacle and narrative depth seem enhanced, Anya Taylor-Joy’s presence as Furiosa was not distinctly evident in the footage.
The overall box office performance is expected to vary depending on how much Anya Taylor-Joy can surpass the strong impression left by Charlize Theron, who played Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road with her charismatic performance.
Following the footage reveal, Director George Miller commented, “[In] Fury Road, the story unfolds over three days. At that time, it was necessary to convey the backstory of everything, such as how the vehicles and weapons were created and even the context of the characters’ dialogue and actions.”
However, “We are dealing with a bigger story this time,” he continued, “covering 18 years of narrative from Furiosa’s kidnapping in the green lands to her arrival at Fury Road, marking a different kind of project.”
Director George Miller at the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga footage screening held on the 15th at Seoul’s Yongsan CGV, explaining the work in person. Photo provided by Warner Brothers Korea.
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