Exclusive: Mad Max 4: Fury Road

Meet the teenager about to head to Africa to begin work on a Hollywood blockbuster. Harrison Norris is not only acting in Mad Max 4: Fury Road, he will also be working behind the camera. I know what you're thinking: Lucky. Bugger. But luck has nothing to do with it for the filmmaking prodigy. Norris swept the Bond University Film and Television Awards last week, picking up seven gongs for his short film Silent Night, including best director.

Now the 16-year-old is packing his bags and heading to Namibia in late January to begin work on the fourth film in George Miller's classic Mad Max series. "It's incredibly awesome,'' says Norris, who just graduated from the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. "It was a small part (to begin with) that's now getting increasingly exciting.''

Son of Gold Coast filmmaker Guy Norris (John Wayne Parr: Blessed With Venom), Harrison won the role after auditioning at an Australian casting call earlier in the year. He's currently in "physical training'' four times a week in preparation for the shoot, which will also see him work in a production role. "I'm going to be rotated through the crew; editing suites, extras work, all of it,'' he said. "Working with the 3D tech is going to be brilliant because that technology is cutting edge, it's so exciting.'' The once troubled production is eyeing a March, 2012 start date after a disastrous pre-production schedule. Directed by George Miller, Mad Max 4 was originally scheduled to start filming in Broken Hill in late 2010 before production was pushed back, rescheduled, pushed back, rescheduled and pushed back again before being cancelled and moved to Africa. Although no longer filming in Australia, the estimated $100 million production is set to give a much needed boost to the Australian film industry with mainly Aussie crews working on the film in pre and post production.

Harrison said being part of one of the most anticipated films of the decade is going to be a big change from working on short films.But it's a challenge he's ready for and, it seems, one he was born to take up. Harrison said he "pretty much grew up'' on film sets. His father Guy started his film career performing stunts on Mad Max 2 before going on to coordinates stunts on films such as Moulin Rouge and second unit director roles on The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Australia. "My dad did nearly all the death scenes in Mad Max 2 so it's weird my first role on a major film will be Mad Max as well,'' he said.

Guy Norris will also be on the set of Mad Max 4 as stunt coordinator and Harrison said the family are looking at relocating to the continent for the duration of the year-long shoot. The next Batman villain Tom Hardy (Inception, Warrior) is taking over from Mel Gibson (JEWS!) in the title role with names such as Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz and Adelaide Clemens set to co-star. Specific details on the film are being kept under wraps but some geek-out worthy images of possible Mad Max 4 vehicles were leaked in September. Harrison said he too has to keep his lips sealed, but fans won't be disappointed. "Everything is cool,'' he said. "The cars are cool, the weapons are cool, the locations are cool . . .everything.''

Harrison said those worried about the gap between Mad Max films need not bother as the reboot has plenty of potential. "Personally I know it's going to be fantastic,'' he said. "What we're seeing with remakes and reboots at the moment like The Nightmare On Elm Street is even if it's a terrible film - which that was - it's introducing a whole new generation to that icon. It's reminding people that it exists and it's kicking it into a new generations mind. With this, a lot of people remember the Mad Max films and for those that don't, this is a way to rediscover them. It will be very cool. It's amazing over there. There are these huge, rolling sand dunes that I can't wait to film.''

I have faith. I know people are still pissed at this for leaving Australia to shoot but honestly? It couldn't be done. They couldn't make the film they needed to make here with the support they needed. They're still employing a largely Australia crew, cast and extras so shut the frak up about it. Plus, unlike so many others, I think this is a reboot people genuinely want to see.

Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is more of the feral boomerang kid (above) from Mad Max 2. Sincerely, Movie Mazz.