Before Tom Hardy graced the silver screen as the antihero protagonist of Fury Road, Hollywood star Mel Gibson brought the character to life in the 1979 film, Mad Max. The first film in the post-apocalyptic and dystopian action film series was a blockbuster and gave rise to the following sequels. The third installment of the franchise Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome featured Gibson alongside Tina Turner.
However, things were not that great for the franchise’s leading star at the time. The actor opened up about the issues he faced and how his co-star, Tina Turner, helped him to stay focused at the time.
Mad Max Star Tried to Help Mel Gibson
The singer-songwriter Tina Turner joined Mel Gibson for the third installment of the dystopian action film series Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Like the previous two films, the 1985 movie was also a box-office hit. However, during an interview with Bet.com, the lead star of the movie shared that he struggled to be in control while filming the movie.
“I was a wild boy. I used to get loaded,” he said during his interview. However, Tina Turner, who reportedly turned down the offer for Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, tried her best to make sure that her co-star stayed focused while filming. He further explained,
“She sent me a photograph of myself one time and she said, ‘Please don’t mess this up.’ Because she was worried about me. I was touched by that, that went in somewhere.”
The actor has suffered from alcohol abuse for years and has often gotten in trouble due to the same. He was reportedly arrested for driving under the influence in Toronto in 1984 while filming Gillian Armstrong’s Mrs. Soffel. While he tried several methods, Gibson continued to struggle with drinking.
The Braveheart star has also been riddled with accusations of anti-Semitism, homophobia, racism, and domestic violence. However, despite several controversies, the actor has continued working in the film industry.
Tina Turner Was in Talks For Mad Max For a While
Starring alongside Mel Gibson, Tina Turner portrayed the character of the ruthless ruler of Bartertown, Aunty Entity. The character represented both good and evil, as she wanted to rebuild civilization and give people hope, however, in the process of doing so she turned into a cruel ruler.
Filmmaker George Miller shared that he had been aware of Turner’s work and saw her in the role of Aunty Entity. “It was her persona that drew me to her – particularly for the role [of Aunty Entity],” he said in an interview with The Guardian. The filmmaker also shared that the singer-actress was in talks for a long before they even finished the script of the movie.
“Every time we talked about Aunty Entity as we were writing, we’d say: “Oh, someone like Tina Turner.” She was the only person we could think of.”
And she was just perfect for the role. However, the makers did not expect her to accept the offer. It was her first acting role in ten years, after the 1975 film Tommy, and she received positive reviews for her performance. The Grammy winner sadly passed away at the age of 83 on May 24, 2023.
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is available on Prime Video.
Source: BET.com, The Guardian
