Actress Charlize Theron attends the premiere of "The Burning Plain" in New York
Photograph by: Peter Kramer
Credit: AP

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Despite his long association with the fourth movie, Mel Gibson is not reprising his iconic role of Max Rockatansky, the hardened ex-cop in a future beset by gas shortages and marauding gangs.

That job goes to Hardy, the British-born actor who stole scenes as Handsome Bob in Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla." ("RocknRolla" has proved to be a launch pad for Hardy, who booked a role in Christopher Nolan's "Inception" as well. He also starred in "Bronson.")

Theron is playing the female lead.

Story details are being kept under wraps; what's known is that the movie takes place a short while after the story detailed in 1985's "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome," which would keep Mad Max relatively young.

The filmmakers are eyeing a summer 2010 shoot in Australia. The movie will be an Australian production that Warner Bros. will distribute.

"Road" has been in the works for more than a decade, with Gibson attached to star at one point.

Theron appears next in this fall's "The Road," the big-screen adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel.