If you liked Mad Max: Fury Road’s black-and-white version, then you will certainly like the upcoming black-and-white version of George Miller’s latest film, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. The 2024 post-apocalyptic action film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Miller is the fifth installment in the Mad Max franchise, serving as a prequel and spin-off to Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). The film chronicles the origin story of Charlize Theron’s Furiosa. However, this time, the character is portrayed by Anya Taylor-Joy.
Following its release, the film met with positive reviews from critics and has grossed $65 million worldwide. While its reception was as expected from the Mad Max franchise, what comes as a surprise or a treat for Mad Max fans is that this prequel film will also get the same treatment as the 2015 film, as Miller reveals that the latest film will also come in a black-and-white edition.
In 2016, George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road was released in black-and-white; this was referred to as the “black and chrome” version of the film.
In a recent interview with Josh Horowitz for the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Miller confirmed that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will indeed be getting a black-and-white version. According to the filmmaker, the version of Furiosa could be called the “Tinted Black and Chrome” edition, continuing the naming convention from his black-and-white version of Fury Road. Miller said,
“We’ve done it already. It’s the last thing I did on this film, and I call it “Tinted Black & Chrome,” or I want to call it Tinted Black & Chrome. I must say, it’s really interesting. I’m still trying to demystify why the black and white, for me, has something more elemental to it. I still can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s not because they look like old black-and-white movies, it’s something else. It’s like if we took a picture of ourselves right now, it might look a little more dramatic if it was black and white.”
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Miller’s decision to release a black-and-white version of Mad Max: Fury Road changed the film’s nature entirely. Removing color intensity in Fury Road showcases craft elements and actors’ performances, making it more iconic. Now, it would be interesting to see what magic filmmaker vision can add to this black-and-white version of Furiosa.
How is ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ different from ‘Furiosa’?
While you get to see some similarities between the latest Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road, there are also differences that have never been seen before. Mad Max: Fury Road takes place over a few days and is essentially one long car chase. Furiosa is one of the main characters of that film, with Tom Hardy’s Max tagging along as she attempts to escape from the Citadel with the War Rig. In addition to the titular character, Furiosa features the return of characters like Immortan Joe, Rictus Erectus, The People Eater, The Bullet Farmer, and Organic Mechanic, among others. The two movies also take place in the same Mad Max world, meaning they share many similarities in terms of atmosphere, colors, and specific locations.
While these elements remain the same in both films, what distinguishes them from one another is their story structure. The two films are entirely different in terms of their premise. “Furiosa” is an odyssey following Taylor-Joy’s character over 15 years as she confronts Hemsworth’s Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). The film delves into Furiosa’s life and upbringing, explaining how she became the character seen in “Mad Max: Fury Road” rather than being a continuous car chaser.
“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” ultimately features a healthy balance of old and new, meaning the upcoming Tinted Black & Chrome edition should be just as impressive as the black-and-white version of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
