It’s the new trend in Hollywood, when a belly rears its ugly head. Since the pandemic relaxed broadcasting rules in the United States, studios have been plugging leaks through their streaming platforms. When a film does not have all the ingredients for success in theaters, entertainment giants hope that making it available on VOD will save the day. Recently, The Fall Guy had been relegated to online shopping platforms, to compensate for its poor scores at the global box office.
Furiosa, who was expected as the Messiah as summer approached, is preparing to suffer the same fate. Warner Bros. has announced that it will be available for digital purchase from June 25. Pre-orders are already open to United States, priced at $29.99. France, subject to the media chronology, will not be able to benefit from such an early launch and will therefore have to wait a few months before being able to discover Angry from his living room.
An unexpected bide?
When George Miller announced the release of Angrythe enthusiasm of his most fervent admirers could not be more significant. Fury Road had revolutionized the postapocalyptic saga, this prequel was to bring the roaring universe into a new era. The receipts for the film with Tom Hardy amounted to 380 million dollars, a small success for the production whose budget is estimated at 150 – 180 million. Angry logically should have done at least as well with its similar envelope and an equally prestigious cast.
A month after its French release, the project led by Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth has not yet exceeded 160 million dollars in revenue worldwide. Warner Bros. is far from covering its costs, and things are not getting better. If the film benefited from a rave review, a launch at Cannes and the aura of the saga Mad Max to prove himself, the public was ultimately not there. This failure is an indicator of a struggling global box office and a dark omen for the world of George Miller.
Pas de The Wasteland ?
45 years after the first steps of Mad Max in the cinema, George Miller seemed to be far from finished with his franchise. After Angrythe Australian filmmaker hoped to find his hero camped to recount the events which precede Fury Road. Baptized The Wasteland, this film had been mentioned numerous times by the teams and the director. But that was before Angry confronts the harsh reality of post-covid dark rooms. If Miller has not yet given any news of his next foray into the dark and merciless universe of Mad Maxa recent interview with Tom Hardy confirms that things are more complicated than expected.
The second interpreter of Max Rockatansky explains to Forbes that the chances of this project coming to fruition are tiny. “I don’t think it’s going to happen”. These statements are aligned with that of George Miller, who explained last May to wait for a green light before launching hostilities. “I still don’t know what to do with The Wasteland. I’m just waiting to see Furiosa’s reception. If everything aligns, we will move forward”. For the reception of spectators, it is already in the pocket, for the financial profitability on the other hand, Warner Bros may not want to take the risk again so soon.
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