Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth, Anya Taylor-Joy in Sydney for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga premiere
The stars of George Miller’s latest Mad Max epic hit the ruby rug for the Australian premiere of Furiosa on Thursday night in Sydney. See the red carpet highlights here.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Mad Max fans have been lining up on Market street in Sydney’s CBD across from the State Theatre since 3pm.
The crowds numbered more than one thousand shortly before the Hollywood stars were due to hit the carpet, despite warnings of rain.
Their wait was rewarded when leading lady Anya Taylor-Joy and Elsa Pataky, actor and Chris Hemsworth’s wife went out to meet them.
Taylor-Joy, who is the titular Furiosa, got out of a black hummer limo to thunderous cheers as the crowds glimpsed her otherworldly ensemble.
“If I can, I would love to go and see people,” she told her security and managers.
“We made this movie with this not quite small group of people. It’s been a year and a half since we filmed so for them to be here it’s really touching,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
The Queen’s Gambit star added that her red carpet dress was Furiosa-inspired. “I wanted to wear something that felt like armour and I feel so lucky to get to wear one of the last things that Paco Robanne created,” she said, referencing the late designer.
Hemsworth and Pataky walked the carpet closely together, with the couple both starring in the film. Hemworth’s 9-year-old twin boys Sacha and Tristan held his hand and gazed up at their dad as he did interviews.
This is a 180 from the Australian star’s usual wheelhouse, as he swapped his hero cape for the role of Dementus, the loud, brazen, and morally bankrupt villain.
“It’s really refreshing to play the bad guy,” Hemsworth said.
“I played the hero for a lot of years and there’s an expectation and some rules that need to be abided by. Whereas, the villain has got an honesty and freedom to it.”
“They’re allowed to be inconsistent, like most of us, so I really enjoyed it. Creatively, it was a very fun adventure.”
Hemsworth said that this film is a long-held dream come true.
“When I first got to Los Angeles, I didn’t even deserve an audition or anything, and I was enquiring about Mad Max,” he told The Daily Telegraph.
“Then I saw Fury Road and called my agent and said I have got to be in a George Miller film. Whether it’s playing Mad Max or whatever, this guy is an absolute genius and a master, and I’ll carry the coffee if that’s what he requires.”
“I am celebrating tonight,” Taylor-Joy continued. “My mum’s here, Chris’ family’s here - who I love very dearly - and all the people who’ve made the movie with me are here.”
She stars as a younger Furiosa (originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in 2015), who’s violently taken from her home by a biker horde and vows vengeance on over-the-top warlord Dementus (Hemsworth).
“I love everything about Furiosa,” Taylor-Joy said. “She is such a resilient individual. She absolutely will not go down and I love the fact that she still has a bit of herself that she won’t allow to be corrupted and I think that’s really important.”
With starring roles in film and TV series like The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu, Split, and Peaky Blinders, Taylor-Joy agreed that she has an inclination towards “intense characters”.
“I don’t know if I’m intense, but I’m very passionate. When I love something, then I really really love it and I hope that’s a good thing.”
Up until recently Australian Charlee Fraser was better known as a model, but the brunette beauty now has two mega-films under her belt. The first was a minor role in Sydney Sweeney’s rom-com Anyone But You. “But actually you just saw that one first,” she told The Daily Telegraph on the red carpet. “We filmed this before.”
With loud music blaring down the street, director George Miller was lapping up the spotlight, ready to see his masterpiece for the very first time.
“This is the first public screening in the world,” Miller said.
“We only finished it 10 days ago.”
HEMSWORTH’S FURIOSA RETURN TO BIG SCREEN
It’s Murphy’s Law — when you want sunshine, it rains; when you need rain, it’s perfect blue skies.
A drizzly grey Sydney day did not ruin the moment however as two of Hollywood’s biggest stars showcased their new offering.
Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy had the Sydney Opera House as their backdrop as they joined acclaimed Academy Award winning director George Miller to present Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga to the world.
“It is always the case with film crews, when you want rain, just invite us to shoot,” Miller told The Daily Telegraph.
Furiosa is the prequel to Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road that starred Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.
In this film, Furiosa is played by Taylor-Joy while Hemsworth is Dementus.
Miller received special dispensation from the Cannes Film Festival, where it will have its official world premiere on May 15, to screen the film in Sydney for its Australian premiere at the State Theatre on Thursday.
“A friend of mine was saying that the Americans have Star Wars, the Brits have Harry Potter and we as Australians have Mad Max so this is a dream come true,” Hemsworth said.
“To be a part of the Mad Max universe, something that has been around for 45 years, something that is so iconically Australian, I grew up on it and just about every Australian actor has dreamt of being a part of this in some way, shape or form, so it is incredible. And to kick off the press tour here in Australia, in Sydney where we shot the film is even more special.”
Miller delivered the final copy of the film at the end of last week, meaning cast and crew will see it for the first time in its entirety at the Australian premiere.
The movie was shot in various locations across NSW, including the iconic red desert sands outside Broken Hill. It is claimed to have injected some $350 million into the NSW economy with a crew of 3100 people and 4500 extras employed for the shoot.
Taylor-Joy spent several months here making the film and particularly loved shooting in the remote locations.
“It was myself and my cat, who is a proud Australian, it was just the two of us in the outback together,” Taylor-Joy said, wearing an incredible Rick Owens leather outfit. “I loved it, I really wanted to see red earth as I realised I’d never seen it before and it just gave it a level of authenticity that I think the film really benefits from.”
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga opens in Australian cinemas on May 23.
Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
More Coverage
Originally published as Hollywood stars Chris Hemsworth, Anya Taylor-Joy in Sydney for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga premiere
‘Conman’: Political strategists’ heartache over worker’s betrayal
An internationally renowned campaign strategist has stared down a former employee he once trusted so much he gave him keys to his home — before the staffer stole substantial funds from his business.
Wife of high profile Sydney lawyer fights meth allegations
The wife of a high-profile Sydney lawyer is set to fight allegations she was caught in possession of meth in the city’s eastern suburbs.