Mel Gibson surprises everyone by showing up at new Mad Max premiere
Mel Gibson – the original Mad Max – made a surprise appearance at the US premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road on Friday morning (Singapore) in Los Angeles.
The 59-year-old actor made his name as Max Rockatansky in the 1979 dystopian action film and reprised the role for two sequels, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) and Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome (1985).
Fury Road, which marks the franchise's return after a 30-year hiatus with original director George Miller at the helm, features English actor Tom Hardy filling Gibson's shoes.
Described as looking healthy and happy by Entertainment Tonight, Gibson was all smiles as he posed for photos with Hardy on the red carpet.
PHOTO: AFP
Director George Miller (centre) with two generations of Mad Maxes (or is that Maxi?). PHOTO: AFP
Since appearing in The Expendables 3 last year, Gibson has been keeping a low profile, although he will star in the upcoming Jean-Francois Richet flick, Blood Father.
However, any Mad Max fans keen on seeing Gibson return to the franchise in the future will be sorely disappointed.
Addressing rumours that Gibson was making a cameo in Fury Road, Miller said it "didn't make sense to suddenly have Mel appear, it would just pull the audience out. I don't think he would've done it anyway."
He added: "It was time for there to be a new Mad Max, just like there have been several James Bonds."
Fury Road opens in Singapore on May 14.
Sources: E! Online, Entertainment Tonight, The Independent
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