George Miller, who is set to helm the upcoming next installment of ‘Mad Max,’ titled ‘Mad Max: Fury Road” is postponing the start of the pre-production of the movie, www.reelzchannel.com is reporting. The director, who is slated to relaunch the character “Mad” Max Rockatansky, was supposed to start shooting the fourth film of the series in his native Australia soon. However, because the Broken Hill region of New South Wales has seen heavy rain recently, Miller has said “Unfortunately for ‘Mad Max,’ what was wasteland is now this wonderful flower garden.”

Miller has also told The Daily Telegraph that because of the rain delay, he will now “restart pre-production later this year and begin (shooting) early next year-weather permitting.” He added that the vehicles for the movie are already built, the funding is in place and he’s already secured the principal actors.

The delay will allow Miller to finish directing ‘Happy Feet 2,’ the sequel to his hit Academy Award-winning 2006 film ‘Happy Feet.’ Also, ‘Mad Max’s lead star, ‘Inception’s Tom Hardy, will be able to shoot ‘The Wettest Country in the World’ and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ during the delay. Chalize Theron, who is also set to appear in ‘Mad Max,’ will also be able to complete her films ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ and ‘Prometheus.’

Written by: Karen Benardello