Ron Seifried | On 29, Jul 2014

It’s always a risk to return to a successful franchise after 30 years. This is especially obvious when the lead actor is replaced by a lesser-known thespian. This is may not be the case with the latest example if you judge by the first trailer. Unveiled at Comic-con last week is an early peek at the fourth installment of George Miller’s Australian wasteland franchise, Mad Max Fury Road. Out in theaters next summer, the film stars Tom Hardy (Bane in The Dark Knight Rises) replacing the aging Mel Gibson as Max, one survivor in a lost world of murderous gangs and warlord marshals trying to survive in a seemingly lost world.

Taking place between the second and third films, Mad Mad Fury Road also stars Charlize Theron as a one-armed survivor among an eclectic group of malcontents. This prequel/sequel looks very impressive using Miller’s distinctive eye toward vast desert vistas with a bend of high octane explosions and punk-influenced baddies. Now is the time to dust off the original trilogy and prepare for a bumpy ride.