Mad Max prequel: Charlize Theron says being replaced as Furiosa by younger actor was ‘tough to swallow’

George Miller is recasting role with actor in her twenties

Charlize Theron has described the decision to recast the role of Furiosa in a forthcoming Mad Max spinoff as “heartbreaking”.

In May, The New York Times published an oral history of Fury Road, the 2015 film that starred Theron as war captain Furiosa opposite Tom Hardy. In the article, director George Miller revealed he is casting a Furiosa prequel and that, since it will feature a young version of the character, he has decided to recast the role with an actor in her twenties.

Reacting to the news, 44-year-old Theron told The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s a tough one to swallow. Listen, I fully respect George, if not more so in the aftermath of making Fury Road with him. He’s a master, and I wish him nothing but the best. Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking, for sure.”

She said she is “so grateful” she had the opportunity to play and help create Furiosa, adding: “If [George] feels like he has to go about it this way, then I trust him in that manner.”

The actor then, however, went on to point out how casting doesn’t necessarily have to stay faithful to the character, implying she believes she could have been right for the prequel.

“I feel like storytelling, on many levels, is really pushing the envelope,” Theron said. “We’re seeing shows like Chernobyl, a quintessential Russian story, and you have British actors playing all of these historical Russian characters. There’s something refreshing about it; the emotional impact of the story isn’t lost.”

The young Furiosa has not yet been cast, but Emma star Anya Taylor-Joy has been rumoured to be taking on the role.

Theron, who can next be seen in The Old Guard, recently revealed most people have been saying her name wrong all this time.