One of the “Mad Max” sequels that have long been in the works is finally getting out of Development Hell. According to ComingSoon and The Daily Telegraph, director George Miller has stated that production will start January 2012. “We’ve built the vehicles…we’ve designed the movie. The principal cast is locked in. The film is funded. It’s all ready to go. We just wait.”

The production date of January is partly due to the unpredictable rainy weather that have temporarily disrupted the Australian outback.

Tom Hardy is scheduled to play the role that was initially made famous by Mel Gibson. If you recall, Hardy is also expected to be in the next “Batman” movie “The Dark Knight Rises”, playing Bane. Charlize Theron is also expected to be in the “Mad Max” sequel.

As stated above “Mad Max: Fury Road” is only one of the two “Mad Max” sequels that have been slated for production. The next sequel, “Mad Max: Furiosa”, are expected to be filmed back-to-back.

The original “Mad Max” movies were about a rogue cop in a futuristic, dystopic Australia who goes after a biker gang who murdered his family. Aside from Gibson, one of the bigger names in the film series is Tina Turner, who played Aunty Entity, the ruler of Bartertown.

The film, also starring Zoe Kravitz, Nicholas Hoult, Riley Keough and Adelaide Clemens, has yet to set a specific release date.