A new book has revealed that Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy had an explosive relationship during the filming of Mad Max: Fury Road.
In new interviews from cast and crew, they have revealed the famous actors had intense shouting matches on set.
Theron And Hardy Had Explosive On Set Relationship, Reveals New Book
According to New York Times columnist Kyle Buchanan's new book 'Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild And True Story Of Mad Max: Fury Road', members of the production team detail how Theron believed she needed protection against Hardy.
Hardy starred as the title character, Max, who was played by Mel Gibson in the first three films in the series, while Theron starred as Imperator Furiosa, a lieutenant to the villain Immortan Joe. The pair spends much of the 2015 action film racing across the desert with each other.
'It got to a place where it was kind of out of hand, and there was a sense that maybe sending a woman producer down could maybe equalize some of it, because I didn’t feel safe,' Theron explained.
'I kind of put my foot down. [Director] George [Miller] then said, “Okay, well, if [producer] Denise comes . . .” He was open to it and that kind of made me breathe a little bit, because it felt like I would have another woman understanding what I was up against,' she continued. Theron believes more female producers on set could have resolved issues.
Hardy Often Arrived Late On Set, Frustrating Theron
In the new book, Natascha Hopkins, a stunt double on the movie, recounted how Theron didn't want to waste time on set, as she was a new mother at the time. Camera operator Mark Goellnicht explained how Hardy was often late for the start of shooting. This would regularly cause issues with the pair.
'Gets to nine o’clock, still no Tom,' Goellnicht recounted. '“Charlize, do you want to get out of the War Rig and walk around, or do you want to . . .” “No, I’m going to stay here.” She was really going to make a point. She didn’t go to the bathroom, didn’t do anything. She just sat in the War Rig.' Despite Theron making special requests for early starts, Hardy often failed to turn up.
'She jumps out of the War Rig, and she starts swearing her head off at him, saying, “Fine the f**king c*** a hundred thousand dollars for every minute that he’s held up this crew,” and “How disrespectful you are!”' Goellnicht continued after Hardy arrived at 11am.
It seems like no hard feelings were to be had, as the pair ultimately made up by the end of filming.
Camera operator Goellnicht noted that Hardy 'was a different person by the end,' and he and Theron appeared to warm up to each other after shooting scenes together later in the production.
He said Hardy was 'a lot easier to deal with, a lot more cooperative, more compassionate. He’s such a Method actor that I think he took the arc in the literal sense.'