George Miller Says Rain, Not Budget To Blame For Delayed Production On 'Mad Max'; Hugh Keays-Byrne To Return

When news broke late last week that George Miller's already delayed "Mad Max" films were going to be bumped once again, we began to get an uneasy feeling as the situation bore similarities to Miller's last major live-action attempt; his "Justice League" film for Warner Bros. which was scrapped at the final hurdle in 2008 and never recovered.

However, it appears that nothing more sinister than weather conditions are to blame for the delay with a forecast of rain hitting the desert forcing filmmakers to hold production until the Australian outback goes back to being hot, dry and dusty.

''Unfortunately for Mad Max, what was wasteland is now this wonderful flower garden,'' Miller said. And shooting elsewhere is not an option Miller seems to be too interested in. ''We've looked at every single nook and cranny in Australia for these specific locations. That's why Broken Hill has become such a base for outback films: you've got the infrastructure of the city itself and the treeless plains beyond."

''Obviously if we go to Namibia or Morocco or Chile it's a different kettle of fish, but we want to shoot it here," Miller said.

As for the budget issues, Miller states that financing is not an issue and that Warner Bros. is still behind the film. ''Warners are very, very committed to the film, as we are,'' he said. ''There is nothing like creative problems. It's not an issue of budget; we're covered on the Australian dollar rise.''

And finally, we have a bit more casting news. Hugh Keays-Byrne -- who played Toecutter in "Mad Max -- is returning though its not known if he's reprising his role (maybe as the father of the character he played?). Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are expected to stick with the film with a new start date arriving as early as July 2011 but most likely September or October.