Jeremy Renner Up for Mad Max 4?

Published by Jeff Leins on: August 1st, 2009

Jeremy Renner is fighting for a role in Mad Max 4, according the actor during his recent publicity tour.  He’s been receiving plenty of due praise in the past few months for his starring role in The Hurt Locker, an impressive Iraq War story that has even earned a little early Oscar buzz.

Renner told The Modesto Bee (which was picked up by AICN) about entering the Thunderdome:  “I’m also fighting to do the new Mad Max film with George Miller. That might be next summer. I’m screen-testing and meeting George Miller.”

Here’s a little background on the fourth movie.  Miller originally planned Mad Max: Fury Road with Mel Gibson in 2003 and even progressed far enough to have new post-apocalypse vehicles built for the sequel, but ironically the war in Iraq, the collapse of the American dollar, and other complications shelved the Fox production.  Instead, the Australian director turned his focus to Happy Feet and a possible Justice League movie, but only the animated penguins emerged complete.

Miller decided to return to the series in 2007 and even commissioned a 3-D anime installment of Mad Max to accompany an upcoming video game release.  Now the director is scouting locations and dusting off the old vehicles for a third series addition: a live-action installment.  Gibson is no longer being considered for the lead, so Miller is sorting through a list of choices for a new road warrior.  I don’t know who else is up for the part, but I hope Renner gets it.