Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Set to Star in Mad Max Spinoff ‘Furiosa’

Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II are set to star in “Furiosa,” the prequel spinoff movie based on Charlize Theron’s character Furiosa from the 2015 film “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

“Furiosa” will be an origin story and Anya Taylor-Joy will play the titular role of a younger version of Furiosa. The movie will track the genesis of Furiosa before she teamed up with Max Rockatansky in Fury Road. George Miller will direct, co-write and produce “Furiosa,” along with his longtime producing partner Doug Mitchell. The film will be produced by Miller’s own Australian-based Kennedy Miller Mitchell banner, together with “Fury Road” partner Warner Bros. Pictures.

In 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road film, Furiosa is a war captain under the cruel leader Immortan Joe but turns against him to free Joe’s concubines. She then allies with Max Rockatansky, portrayed by Tom Hardy. Miller has directed all four “Mad Max” movies and was nominated for best picture and best director for “Fury Road” at the 2015 Oscars.

Miller had said in a May interview with The New York Times that he’d been searching for an actress in her 20s to take over the role. He said at the time he had considered using de-aging technology to allow Theron — who’s 44 –to play the part again but has decided against doing so. Taylor-Joy is 24.

Taylor-Joy was recently seen as the lead in the romantic comedy Emma, based on the Jane Austen novel. Her additional features include the sci-fi thrillers Split and Glass from M. Night Shyamalan. Beginning later this month, she can be seen starring as a chess prodigy in the miniseries The Queen’s Gambit.

Hemsworth has starred in the “Avengers” and “Thor” films as well as the recent film “Extraction” at Netflix. He is currently set to film in MCU's Thor: Love and Thunder.

Abdul-Mateen II played Black Manta in James Wan’s “Aquaman.” He is currently filming the fourth installment in “The Matrix” series and can be seen as Bobby Seale in Netflix’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, in theaters now and streaming on Friday. He will star in “Candyman,” releasing 2021. Abdul-Mateen recently won an Emmy Award for his performance in the HBO's limited series “Watchmen.”

_{This news was first reported by Deadline.}