‘Furiosa’ Is Another Chance For Chris Hemsworth To Show Everyone He’s A Better Actor Than Given Credit For

Warner Bros. released the first trailer for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the upcoming prequel to 2015’s modern classic Mad Max: Fury Road.

The film notably sees up-and-comer Anya Taylor-Joy take over the instantly iconic role of Furiosa from Academy Award winner Charlize Theron.

Alongside Taylor-Joy is Chris Hemsworth, a fellow countryman of Australian director George Miller and an actor who fits into Miller’s gonzo dystopian world like a glove.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is giving Hemsworth an opportunity he’s rarely come across in the decade-plus since he was cast as Thor, and that’s the chance to play a villain, which is something he’s more than capable of.

While Hemsworth might be most recognized for his literal god-like looks, the 40-year-old Aussie is also a much better actor than he’s given credit for, and Furiosa looks like it’s going to be a chance for him to remind everyone of that.

Clearly adept at action given his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Netflix’s excellent Extraction franchise, Hemsworth has also proven he has special comedic timing, too, thanks to roles in films such as Vacation, Ghostbusters, and Men in Black: International, and the Taika Waititi-directed Thor films.

His dramatic abilities have also shone in performances in projects such as Rush, In the Heart of the Sea, and 12 Strong, and villainous turns in Bad Times at the El Royale and Spidrhead.

Even in his MCU work, Hemsworth’s performance as the God of Thunder is far more nuanced than it would appear on the surface.

Given the way the Thor franchise dramatically shifted after its second movie, and the dramatic weight placed on him in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Hemsworth has basically had to play three different versions of the character of the years: a self-serious Shakespeare riff, a Waititi punchline deliverer, and the emotional core of the Avengers.

Reflect on Infinity War and Endgame, for example, and recall the internal turmoil Thor suffers through in both those films, first due to the loss of his homeworld and his brother, and then because of his failure to “go for the head” and kill Thanos. That arc perhaps provides the most dramatic throughline throughout the two films.

What makes Furiosa such a unique opportunity for Hemsworth, though, is it’s the first time he’s going to be able to combine his superhero action chops, franchise-leading charisma, and underrated flair for villainy.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga will hit movie theaters in the United States on Friday, May 24.