“I’m A Bit Old”: Mad Max’s Mel Gibson Gets Candid About Possible Franchise Return

Mad Max actor Mel Gibson responded honestly about his possible return to the franchise. Gibson first debuted the titular Max in 1979’s George Miller-directed Mad Max. Gibson reprised his role in the 1981 and 1985 sequels, The Road Warrior and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Mad Max was one of Gibson’s breakout roles as it was his only second feature film appearance.

As per The New Indian Express, Gibson candidly addresses whether he would appear in future films in the Mad Max franchise. According to Gibson, he is “a bit old” to appear in Mad Max today. Check out the full quote from Gibson below:

​​I’ve spoken to George [Miller], and at one point I was going to be involved, but I’m a bit old for that now.

What Is Next for the Mad Max Franchise (With or Without Gibson)?

After directing Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Miller took a 30-year break from the Mad Max franchise. He returned to the post-apocalyptic world with a bang, directing the renowned Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015. Mad Max: Fury Road was an outstanding critical and commercial success, taking home $380 million at the global box office and earning Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as winning six awards in technical categories.

After Mad Max: Fury Road catapulted Miller back into the universe, the director turned to make the film Furiosa. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Furiosa will tell the origin story of the titular character debuted by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Within that expanded universe, it is unlikely that Gibson would come back to reprise his Max character directly. After all, Mad Max: Fury Road does skew younger in its lead characters, and given its fast-paced, reflective, aging Max seems like an unlikely direction for the series. Given the series’ loose continuity, Gibson’s statement does not completely shut down any chance that the actor could show up in a cameo role for a future Mad Max film. Audiences will have to wait and see as the Mad Max world continues on with Mad Max: The Wasteland following Furiosa.