Mad Max: Fury Road release date confirmed by Warner Bros.

Variety reports that Mad Max: Fury Road will hit theaters nearly three years after shooting began on the long-awaited sequel. Warner Bros. has pegged Mad Max 4 for release on May 15, 2015. Mad Max 4 began lensing in summer 2012 and has had some challenges along the way, including weather and heat (the Namibian Desert is one of the shooting locations). George Miller, who directed the first three Mad Max films, has returned to the director’s chair for ‘Fury Road.’ Tom Hardy will play Max Rockatansky, taking over for Mel Gibson, who is still scheduled to make an appearance in the film. Other cast include Nicholas Hoult, Charlize Theron, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Riley Keough, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, Angus Sampson, Richard Carter, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Megan Gale, Abbey Lee and Courtney Eaton.

Warners and Village Roadshow will release Mad Max: Fury Road in 3D. It was also reported that ‘Fury Road’ will mark the second May U.S. release for the franchise: the series’ second installment, The Road Warrior, was released to theaters on May 21, 1982. The original Mad Max hit U.S. theaters in different cities on a variety of dates, however it’s initial release in Los Angeles happened on May 9, 1980. Mad Max Thunderdome was released on July 10, 1985.