One mystery surrounding the upcoming “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has been answered with Empire confirming that Australian actor Lachy Hulme has been cast as a younger Immortan Joe in the film.
Though Hulme’s name has been on the cast list for a long time, his character’s name was under wraps. Similarly when Immortan Joe appeared in the trailer in full breathing mask, it wasn’t clear who was playing him – now that’s been answered.
Talking with the outlet as part of its “Furiosa” preview issue, Hulme talks about taking over the role from late legendary actor Hugh Keays-Byrne. He revealed that although they had already begun filming, Miller hadn’t really planned out Immortan Joe until Hulme suggested himself:
“[Miller] said, ‘I’ll probably just get a body double’. I said, ‘Well, somebody needs to step up for Hugh. Someone needs to honor this great man. I can do it. I can do the voice. And it’s all in the eyes.’ [Miller] said, ‘Do you want to do it?’ I said, ‘What took you so long? You’ve finally figured out that this movie ain’t gonna make dollar one until you’ve got double Lachy Hulme in it!’”
saying “somebody needs to step up for Hugh. Someone needs to honor this great man”.
As indicated, Hulme also plays another role in the film as one of the gang members affiliated with Chris Hemsworth’s warlord Dementus, his second character’s name being Rizzdale Pell. Of the overall film itself, Hulme says the scale is reminiscent of a certain “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The Bridge over the River Kwai” director:
“David Lean, but with motorbikes instead of camels. When you see 4,000 custom-made motorbikes come over a hill, you s— your pants.”
George Miller directed and co-wrote “Furiosa” which sees Anya Taylor-Joy as the young Furiosa who is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus.
When they come across the Citadel of Immortan Joe, the two Tyrants war for dominance, as Furiosa struggles to survive many trials and tries to find her way home.
Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson, Daniel Webber, Quaden Bayles and Alyla Browne also star. “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” debuts in cinemas on May 24th.
