Warning! Contains spoilers for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Summary
TheMad Maxfilms have always maintained an air of ambiguity surrounding where their action takes place, butFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagafinally offers some answers. While penning down the firstMad Maxmovie, screenwriter James McCausland and director George Miller recounted how the 1973 oil crisis in Australia put the nation on edge anddrew from their observations of how it led to individuals taking desperate measures to maintain their mobility. Since Australia’s history was such a crucial inspiration for thefirstMad Maxmovie, it is not surprising that the film makes it quite evident that its story unfolds on the Oceanic continent.
Similar to the firstMad Max, even its follow-ups feature several subtle nods to the franchise’s Australian setting without ever explicitly stating where they were taking place.Mad Max: Fury Road, however, treads a different approach by drawing no references to Australia and keeping its overarching setting unknown. Thankfully,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagatakes the franchise back to its roots and finally confirms where its events unfold.
Every Upcoming Mad Max Movie In Development
George Miller already seems to have planned out the multitudes of ways in which the Mad Max franchise can progress after Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.
Furiosa’s Opening Shot Explicitly Shows Where The Film Franchise Is Set
None of the previousMad Maxmovies clearly stated where their stories unfolded, butFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagafinally confirms that allMad Maxfilms are set in Australia. In its opening shot itself,the film zooms in on the continent from outer space, confirming that everything from The Greenplace to The Citadel is located in Australia. Although audiences have always been quite certain that theMad Maxmoviesunfold in Oceania’s largest country, there was some doubt surroundingFury Road’s setting because the film dropped little to no clues about its real-world location.
Since the nextMad Maxmovie will likely be a prequel set one year beforeFury Road, it will also be based in Australia.
By featuring aMad Max cameo,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaburies all doubt and confusion by confirming Max’s looming presence on the Australian landscape. Apart from featuring Max, the film also walks through several locations, like The Citadel and Bullet Farm, which were also a part ofMad Max: Fury Road’s story. The fact thatMad Max: Fury RoadandFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagashare many characters and settings confirms the two films have to be set in the same geographical location. Since the nextMad Maxmovie will likely be a prequel set one year beforeFury Road, it will also be based in Australia.
Australian Slangs, Cars, And Even Locations Can Be Spotted Throughout The Franchise
From “Fang it” to “Guzzoline,” “Right-o” to “Thunder up,” theMad Maxmovies have adopted various Australian slang to hint at where they are set. None of the films may have overtly stated that they ensue in Australia, but even their visuals distinctly resemble many locations on the continent. For instance, in the firstMad Maxfilm,the Hall of Justice is reminiscent of Melbourne and even features a shot of the West Gate Bridge in the background.Mad Max Beyond Thunderdomealso shows a shot of Sydney Harbor and the little that is left of it in the post-apocalyptic world.
Even the Main Force Patrol (MFP) inMad Maxexclusively drives Ford Falcons,a car often considered synonymous with Australia’s motoring culture. 1981’sMad Max 2also briefly shows a dead kangaroo, which is another clear indicator of the movie franchise’s setting. It must be noted, though, that even thoughFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagaconfirms allMad Maxfilms are set in Australia,Mad Max: Fury Roadwas primarily filmed in South Africa’s Namibian Deserts.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
