Mad Max: Fury Road trailer roars into life

MAD Max fans have been waiting for this sequel since 1985. But the wait is almost over, with the explosive second trailer for Fury Road released overnight.

MAD Max fans have been waiting for this sequel since 1985.

But the wait is almost over, with the explosive second trailer for Aussie director George Miller’s latest instalment released overnight.

Mad Max: Fury Road, which was shot in various locations in Australia and Namibia, is a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky, a.k.a. Mad Max.

Tom Hardy stars in the title role, with Oscar winner Charlize Theron starring as the Imperator, Furiosa, a woman who wishes to cross the desert wasteland in which the film is set.

Explosive ... Tom Hardy stars in the title role in Mad Max: Fury Road Photo: Jasin Boland

It also stars Riley Keough, the eldest grandchild of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and supermodel Abbey Lee — collectively known as The Wives.

The new official trailer features Theron and Hardy and a series of explosive car chases.

Fans of the post-apocalyptic franchise are already salivating over the trailer, describing it as “action film as opera” and “bad ass”.

The new #FuryRoad trailer is INSANE! Looks like all my dreams and nightmares come true all at once! Bless you, George Miller!!!

— Knut André Dale (@Lloyd_84) December 10, 2014

Boy, George Miller's come a long way since Neverending Story 2! #FuryRoad

— JustAnotherFilmNerd (@Anotherfilmnerd) December 10, 2014

LOOKS EPIC!!! ---- #MadMax: #FuryRoad - Official Theatrical Teaser Trailer [HD]: http://t.co/r6QLWpgvWe

— Midnight Movie Guy (@MidniteMovieGuy) December 10, 2014

The initial trailer for Fury Road was released at San Diego Comic Con in July, the first glimpse of a new Mad Max film on screen for 30 years.

The original Mad Max film, starring a young Mel Gibson, was released in 1979 and became a cult classic.

Flashback ... Mel Gibson in the Australian outback in a scene from Mad Max 2. Picture: Supplied

It became a top-grossing Australian film, holding the Guinness record for most profitable film for decades, and has been credited for further opening up the global market to Australian New Wave films.

It also spawned sequels Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior) in 1981 and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome in 1985, also starring Tina Turner.

Mad Max: Fury Road is due for release in May 2015.

We need another hero ... Fury Road is a return to the world of the Road Warrior, Max Rockatansky, a.k.a. Mad Max. Pic: Jasin Boland