In a recent interview with The Telegraph, director George Miller opened up about the well-known feud between Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron during the production of “Mad Max: Fury Road.” As his prequel movie “Furiosa” prepares for its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and upcoming theatrical release, Miller reflected on the intense rivalry between the two stars. According to Miller, the root cause of the conflict was the stark contrast in their performance styles.
According to Miller, Tom has both a damage and a brilliance that accompanies it. He had to be encouraged to come out of his trailer, which confirms the reports about his tardiness causing tension with his co-star. On the other hand, Charlize was extremely disciplined and always the first one on set. Her background as a dancer was evident in the precision of her performance.
“I’m an optimist, so when I observed their behavior, I saw it as a reflection of their character. They had to learn to work together in order to ensure their mutual survival,” Miller explained. “There’s absolutely no excuse for their actions, and I believe that in this industry, there’s a tendency to use exceptional performances as a justification for other disruptions that could have been prevented.”
In the book “Blood, Sweat & Chrome,” Theron revealed that her dynamic with Hardy on the set of “Mad Max: Fury Road” resembled that of two parents in a car. She admitted that they would either fight or give each other the cold shoulder, and the rest of the crew had to witness and manage the fallout. Theron reflected on this and acknowledged that they should have handled the situation better, taking responsibility for their actions.
Both actors have now accepted responsibility for the feud that took place during the making of “Fury Road.” They attribute the intense production schedule and a general lack of trust as the main reasons for the conflict. According to the movie’s camera operator, Mark Goellnicht, there was one particularly explosive encounter that sparked the tension between the two performers.
“The call time on set was eight o’clock. Charlize arrived promptly at eight o’clock and settled into the War Rig, fully aware that Tom would likely not be there on time, despite a special request for him to do so,” Goellnicht revealed. “He had a reputation for never being punctual in the morning. If the call time was in the morning, it was safe to assume he wouldn’t show up.”
Ricky Schamburg, the first assistant camera, observed that the actions were seemingly intended to provoke. He was unsure if it was a power play, but he believed that the person responsible knew it was irritating Charlize. He also mentioned that Charlize is a highly professional individual who arrives early on set.
Hardy reportedly arrived on set three hours late, leaving Theron waiting in full costume and makeup inside the War Rig. Goellnicht recalled Hardy eventually showing up, only to be berated by Theron for his disrespectful behavior. Following this confrontation, Theron brought producer Denise Di Novi to the set in the Namibia desert to shadow her and prevent any future conflicts.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Miller emphasized the importance of safety during the production of “Furiosa.” Prior to filming, he had conversations with the new leads, Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth, and delivered a clear message: “You must prioritize safety – both physically as the shooting progresses and fatigue sets in, and psychologically. It’s not like the reckless times of the past.”
“Furiosa” will be coming to theaters on May 24th, courtesy of Warner Bros.
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