Word from “multiple sources” is that casting on George Miller’s MAD MAX 4 is starting to ramp up. The big name being tossed around is Oscar winner Charlize Theron to play the lead female role in the new installment of the classic Mel Gibson-starring franchise. Theron is generally believed to be up for a newly-created female role in the sequel, not any of the classic lady roles from the 70s and 80s series.

As for the casting of Max himself, it’s also being reported that Miller is looking at Tom Hardy, best known from one of this year’s best-reviewed indies, BRONSON. The last we heard on the casting front for MAD MAX 4 was that THE HURT LOCKER'S Jeremy Renner was gunning hard for the title role. In August, Renner said he was "fighting to do the new Mad Max film with George Miller. That might be next summer. I’m screen-testing and meeting George Miller.”

The lead role in MAD MAX 4 is most likely a career-maker or, at the very least, it will give serious A-list action credit to whoever gets the role. Both Renner and Hardy have had breakthrough years in 2009 with their roles in THE HURT LOCKER and BRONSON, respectively. A MAD MAX casting could only continue their trajectories. Who would you like to see as Max? Renner, Hardy, or someone else?

But, despite all this, MAD MAX 4 is still in its early stages. There has been no official word about the film's plot, though the fact that it's so often referred to as MAD MAX 4 seems to signal that it is not a reboot or remake, but a continuation story. As far as Miller's casting picks, mum is the word even when it comes to auditions - actors "have only been given a letter for their character's name" (ooh, mystery!). And, for all the chatter, no formal approvals or offers have been issued by the studio.

Source E! Online, via First Showing

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