Tom Burke to Replace Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Mad Max Spin-Off Furiosa

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Tom Burke to Replace Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Mad Max Spin-Off Furiosa

According to Deadline, English actor Tom Burke has officially been tapped for one of the leading roles in Warner Bros. Pictures’ upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road spin-off titled Furiosa. The film is slated to make its debut on May 24, 2024.

The actor will be replacing Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who has decided to exit the project due to a scheduling conflict over a long-in-development secret passion project of his. This marks Burke’s first major movie project as its lead after previously appearing in films such as Third Star, Only God Forgives, The Invisible Woman, The Souvenir, and Mank.

Furiosa is being described as a standalone story that will dive into the origins of the character previously portrayed by Charlize Theron (The Old Guard) before crossing paths with the eponymous antihero of the mothership franchise. The film will be led by Golden Globe winner Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) and Chris Hemsworth (Avengers: Endgame).

The Mad Max prequel will again be written and directed by George Miller, who is co-producing the film along with Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell. Miller’s Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner is also attached to produce.

As previously reported, Australian state premier Gladys Berejiklian said the project will become the “biggest film ever to be made in Australia,” with the prequel to receive financial incentives from federal and state government in order to secure its production in the country. Berejiklian added that the production will support “more than 850 local jobs” and will bring in “$350 million to the economy.”

Even though the film had a poor box-office turnout with a worldwide gross of over $370 million, it was still a critical success, with critics praising its cinematography, production design, and the performances of Hardy and Theron, who both had a difficult time during filming. It also won six Oscar awards out of 10 nominations, including Best Production Design, Best Film Editing, and Best Costume Design.