MAD MAX
Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:17 pmMAD Max is revving up for a long-awaited return to the big screen, almost 25 years after Tina Turner ran Mel Gibson out of Bartertown.
Director George Miller is gearing up to shoot the fourth film in the ground-breaking Aussie road warrior franchise, industry sources say.
Scouting for locations is under way for the movie, which many thought would never get off the ground.
It could go into production later this year.
But it's highly unlikely Gibson will be asked to take his leathers out of mothballs to revisit the role that made him an international star.
Two years ago, Miller said he considered the Hollywood heavyweight too old to play the avenging road warrior.
"It won't be Mel. He was 21 when he made the first one, now he's a lot older and his passion is for film-making and directing," Miller said.
"I don't think he is into acting and I don't think he would be interested in being involved at all."
Miller suggested he was considering a new, young star.
Mad Max hit the big screen in 1979, launching Gibson to international stardom.
The budget movie depicts cop Max Rockatansky on the road to vengeance and oblivion after his police mate and family are killed by a vicious bikie gang.
Most of the car chase scenes were filmed near Geelong.
It was followed by Mad Max 2, (1981) and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
News of Mad Max 4 marks a rise in the fortunes of the Australian film industry.
Katie Holmes is due in Melbourne mid-year to shoot celluloid thriller Don't be Afraid of the Dark.
Warner Bros. plans to shoot a $150 million adaptation of DC Comics' The Green Lantern in Australia.
And there is a strong chance Orlando Bloom will film at least part of the $24 million sci-fi escape story The Cross here.
Last week, Bruce Beresford announced he would shoot The Women in Black, with Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci and Miranda Otto, in Sydney in October.
Director George Miller is gearing up to shoot the fourth film in the ground-breaking Aussie road warrior franchise, industry sources say.
Scouting for locations is under way for the movie, which many thought would never get off the ground.
It could go into production later this year.
But it's highly unlikely Gibson will be asked to take his leathers out of mothballs to revisit the role that made him an international star.
Two years ago, Miller said he considered the Hollywood heavyweight too old to play the avenging road warrior.
"It won't be Mel. He was 21 when he made the first one, now he's a lot older and his passion is for film-making and directing," Miller said.
"I don't think he is into acting and I don't think he would be interested in being involved at all."
Miller suggested he was considering a new, young star.
Mad Max hit the big screen in 1979, launching Gibson to international stardom.
The budget movie depicts cop Max Rockatansky on the road to vengeance and oblivion after his police mate and family are killed by a vicious bikie gang.
Most of the car chase scenes were filmed near Geelong.
It was followed by Mad Max 2, (1981) and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
News of Mad Max 4 marks a rise in the fortunes of the Australian film industry.
Katie Holmes is due in Melbourne mid-year to shoot celluloid thriller Don't be Afraid of the Dark.
Warner Bros. plans to shoot a $150 million adaptation of DC Comics' The Green Lantern in Australia.
And there is a strong chance Orlando Bloom will film at least part of the $24 million sci-fi escape story The Cross here.
Last week, Bruce Beresford announced he would shoot The Women in Black, with Guy Pearce, Monica Bellucci and Miranda Otto, in Sydney in October.
