Mad Max “covered” on dollar rise
Director George Miller confirmed that although production of Mad Max: Fury Road has been delayed until the second half of 2011, it will “definitely be made”.
”Warners are very, very committed to the film, as we are,” he said. ”There is nothing like creative problems. It’s not an issue of budget; we’re covered on the Australian dollar rise,” said Miller.
In interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Miller explained that unseasonal rain has turned his Broken Hill location from wasteland to ‘a wonderful flower garden”, and finding an alternative location in the country was not possible.
He also confirmed that British actor Tom Hardy (Inception) will play Mad Max. The cast will also include Charlize Theron and Hugh Keays-Byrne.
He may have been the unbreakable Road Warrior, but cinema tough guy, Mad Max, is proving no match for some delicate Australian wildflowers.
Filming of the much-anticipated fourth installment of the Mad Max franchise “Fury Road” has again been postponed because of a “once in 20-year” floral bloom surrounding the film’s location, Broken Hill, in outback New South Wales, Australia.
One of Australia’s rarest plants, a fragile Sturt Desert Pea, can take the blame for the film’s delay as its bright red flower is blooming in a carpet across large tracts of what should be the post-apocalyptic film set of “Fury Road”.
Broken Hill City Council General Manager, Mr Frank Zaknich, said there were positives for the city arising from the film’s delay.
“Pre-production will continue in and around Broken Hill and the producers, Kennedy Miller Mitchell, intend to leave many of their assets here,” Mr Zaknich added.
“So, in effect, the decision to postpone filming means the pre-production crew will be here for an even longer period, continuing to generate more activity for the local economy.
Kennedy Miller Mitchell has also indicated that they will take up their lease on the new Broken Hill Film Studio precinct as originally planned.
“We have had assurances from KMM that they will honour that agreement, so it is full steam ahead with the development of Australia’s fifth-biggest movie studio,” Council’s Community Development manager, Ms Andrea Roberts, said.
While Mad Max devotees lament the delay of the movie, eco-tourists to the Silver City have been the big winners.
“We’ve had international visitors, along with tourists from all over Australia, grinning from ear to ear as they take in the splendor of a fertile outback and Mad Max will have to wait in the wings,” Broken Hill City Council Ranger, Darrell Ford, said.
“Some of the wildflowers we are seeing at the moment are quite rare and our acclaimed Living Desert, has never looked better.”
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