The upcoming movie Furiosa is set to confirm that the 2015 title Mad Max is actually part of the series' wider canon. While the director of the series, George Miller, was consulted during the development of the Mad Max game, it was unknown whether it was considered canon, but that question might finally be answered.

The Mad Max game from Avalanche Studios is somewhat of an outlier for the franchise. It was released months after Mad Max: Fury Road, one of the best movie reboots of all time, but it went on to receive a tepid critical response itself. While there was plenty to praise about its take on vehicle combat, it was mostly forgotten when the dust was settled, while Fury Road continued to receive acclaim for years to come. It would've been easier for the Furiosa prequel to simply ignore its existence, but it seems that isn't the case at all.

Film critic Drew McWeeny claimed on Twitter that he had obtained a copy of the script for Furiosa. After reading through it, he made sure to clarify that the notes in the script indicate that the Mad Max game from 2015 is considered canon to the series. It would've been a shame for the series to ignore one of the most interesting open-world post-apocalyptic games around, but if anything, it seems the exact opposite is the case. According to the critic, "The game, Fury Road, and Furiosa are a more tightly-woven continuity than anything in the other three films," suggesting its place in the canon may be even more important than the original Mel Gibson movies when it comes to Furiosa.

Drew McWeeny even dropped one hint about what potentially makes the game canon in a later tweet, claiming that "You're gonna see Chumbucket again." Throughout the course of the 2015 game, Chumbucket is Max's mechanic and helps the player navigate Mad Max's vehicle management mechanics. As of right now, Max isn't confirmed to appear in Furiosa, but the appearance of Chumbucket in the movie opens up the potential for his return. Still, until the movie is finally released in May 2024, this is all just speculation.

While Furiosa is an extremely exciting upcoming film that is sure to be a treat for fans of the series, news on the video game front has been quiet for a long time now. Back in 2022, there were rumors of a sequel to the 2015 Mad Max game, but they're yet to come to fruition, and no announcement seems likely any time soon. With Furiosa just a few months away, it's surprising that publisher Warner Bros. Games hasn't capitalized on the opportunity for brand exposure that the release of a new movie presents.