Chris Hemsworth-starrer ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Gets 7-minute Standing Ovation at Cannes 2024
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, starring Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy, received a seven-minute standing ovation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. This prequel comes nine years after Mad Max: Fury Road and is directed by George Miller famous for the Mad Max series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the audience at the world premiere of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga erupted in excitement, delivering an enthusiastic seven-minute standing ovation. The cast and director were warmly embraced at the Palais on Wednesday. Taylor-Joy and Hemsworth engaged with fans, graciously posing for selfies. During the extended applause, Taylor-Joy blew kisses into the camera and theatrically bowed, while Hemsworth appeared teary-eyed from the overwhelming reception.
Addressing the crowd, George Miller said, “We worked hard on this film, and it’s been very interesting to see what you make of it.”
In Furiosa, Taylor-Joy takes on the role of Imperator Furiosa, originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in Fury Road. Although Theron expressed interest in reprising the role, Miller opted for a younger star to portray the character, as the film is set over 15 years before the original events. The movie, set in a post-apocalyptic world, spans around 18 years and features Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, and Josh Helman in key roles. It is set to release in Indian cinemas on May 23.
Furiosa at Cannes (Picture credit: X)
The report added that Furiosa was greeted with much enthusiasm and love at Cannes. Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth greeted fans outside the theater and obliged them with selfies. Taylor-Joy wore a stunning champagne-coloured Dior ball gown paired with Tiffany & Co. jewelry, while Hemsworth opted for black trousers and a white jacket and shirt, a notable dress code violation at Cannes. After the premiere, the trio were seen smiling and embracing each other. Baz Luhrmann, director of “Elvis,” was also in the audience and gave George Miller a hug.
Furiosa has Taylor-Joy stepping into the role played by Charlize Theron in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road. Hemsworth plays a demented warlord in this action spectacle set a decade before the 2015 release. The official synopsis from the Cannes Film Festival website reads: “As the world fell, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe. While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.”
Mad Max: Fury Road had also opened to wide acclaim in 2015 and won six Oscars, including Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design. “Furiosa” will be released in Indian theaters on May 23.