Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has cast Lachy Hulme, known for his role in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as the villainous Immortan Joe. This announcement marks yet another character from Mad Max: Fury Road being recast, including Anya Taylor Joy as the titular Furiosa (a role originated by Charlize Theron).
In Fury Road, Immortan Joe runs the Wasteland. Joe controls the proliferation of water throughout the wasteland, becoming a vicious god to the world of Mad Max. He sends his War Boys after Max and Furiosa, before being killed by Furiosa during the film’s climax.
Immortan Joe was originally played by Hugh Keays-Byrne, who also appeared as the main villain, Toecutter, in the original Mad Max film in 1997. Keays-Byrne passed away in 2020. When creating Furiosa, director George Miller was unsure how to handle Immortan Joe.
In an interview with Empire, Lachy Hulme recalled a conversation with Miller where he said he would “probably just get a body double” to portray Immortan Joe. Hulme, who had already been cast in the film as Rizzdale Pell, one of Dementus’ (Chris Hemsworth) lackeys, immediately volunteered to portray the villain. “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.’” Hulme went on to joke “[Miller] finally figured out that this movie ain’t gonna make dollar one until [it’s] got double Lachy Hulme in it!”
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