Charlize Theron has played many iconic characters over the years. From embodying someone like Megyn Kelly in Bombshell to playing the role of a real-life serial killer in Monster, she has showcased her versatility as an actress time and time again. However, no film has managed to get her as much recognition as Mad Max: Fury Road.
Having played the role of Imperator Furiosa, she managed to steal the spotlight in a cast full of respected actors like Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult, and Zoë Kravitz. Considering how iconic her performance was, it is difficult to imagine someone else playing the role in the original film, even though Anya Taylor-Joy did take over recently in the prequel.
However, it would seem that Gal Gadot almost got the role, long before she became Wonder Woman.
Gal Gadot Was Almost in Mad Max: Fury Road
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Gal Gadot looked back at some important moments in her career. Since the interview took place soon after the release of 2017’s Wonder Woman, the actress reminisced on her past experiences before she bagged the iconic role.
Specifically, Gadot mentioned that when she was trying to make it big in Hollywood, she found it difficult to compete with bigger-name actresses when it came to auditioning for roles. She confessed that whenever she was trying out for a film, she would often have to go head-to-head against someone who was already established in their career, forcing her to lose out on many roles.
I had so many almosts for big, great things, but I was never a big enough name… It was always me and the big name. I was runner-up for Mad Max with Charlize,
Gadot even went as far as to reveal that she tried out for the role of Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. Competing against Charlize Theron, she ended up losing the role even though she was a runner-up.
Charlize Theron’s Magnum Opus
Many may be upset at the fact that Gal Gadot did not get a fair shot when she was auditioning for the role of Imperator Furiosa. However, there is no denying that Mad Max: Fury Road would have looked a lot different if the Wonder Woman actress had been a part of it.
On top of the project winning several Oscars for its mastery, Charlize Theron’s character in the film was especially intriguing. The actress’s performance as the character brought a completely different kind of presence to the already-established franchise. So much so, that Furiosa’s hype resulted in her getting a standalone film in 2024, starring Anya Taylor-Joy in the role.
Considering how iconic Theron’s performance was, it is difficult to imagine someone else playing such a character, especially an actress like Gadot. Although there is no denying that the DC actress has her moments of splendor, fans have yet to see her play a rage-filled character like Furiosa.
With this in mind, it would have been almost tragic if the role had gone to Gadot—not because she couldn’t have done it, but because no one could have done it as Theron did.
Mad Max: Fury Road is available for streaming on Hulu.
