Mad Max prequel Furiosa to shoot in New South Wales from June

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that the new Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa will film all over New South Wales, Australia this summer.

Directed by George Miller and starring Chris Hemsworth, Anya Taylor-Joy and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Furiosa is set to become the biggest film to ever be made in New South Wales.

At a media conference in Sydney, Berejiklian emphasised the importance of the cultural capital this project brings to the state. “For us personally in New South Wales, it means 850 local jobs, at least £350m into the local economy. But most importantly, it reinforces New South Wales as not only the economic capital of Australia, but I believe, the cultural capital of Australia.”

The New South Wales government announced at the end of last year that it was adding AUS$175m to its existing NSW fund, which supports high-end international film and TV productions that shoot in the state.

Arts minister Paul Fletcher noted Australia is experiencing a boom in film. “We’re supporting global productions, both coming from overseas and global productions reflecting Australian direction and creative control. There is no more iconic Australian movie franchise than Mad Max, and it really does reflect the extraordinary work of George Miller and all that he’s worked on over 40 years.”

The Australian government continues to back the film industry, as it was confirmed that the producer tax offset will remain at 40% going forward. Last year, the government launched a $400m package to incentivise international film productions in Australia. 

Mad Max producer Doug Mitchell said it wouldn't be possible to make the film in NSW without state and federal government incentives.

Chris Hemsworth expressed his pride and excitement about the project: “I’d grown up watching the films like most Australians, and a lot of people around the world. To be here now, many years later from when it all started, and to be a part of it is a huge honour.”

Miller added: “I didn’t set out to make a big, epic movie. It’s a story I wanted to tell. But as it turns out, it’s got a lot of different scenes. This is a saga which happens over many years, so there’s a lot of different elements to it, but that’s all I should say.”

Furiosa will be released theatrically on 23 June, 2023.

News page image: Producer Doug Mitchell, actor Chris Hemsworth and director George Miller speaking at Fox Studios in Sydney, via AAP.