Max Rockatansky is the protagonist and antihero in the Mad Max series, a post-apocalyptic Australian film franchise. The character was created by director George Miller and producer Byron Kennedy, and was initially played by Mel Gibson in the first three films from 1979 to 1985.

George Miller considered casting an American actor to broaden the film’s appeal but ultimately chose lesser-known actors to keep costs down and avoid associations with past roles. Mel Gibson, an American-born actor, was eventually selected for the role after impressing during auditions. The film was shot in and around Melbourne over six weeks and, despite mixed reviews initially, it became highly profitable and influential in global cinema, paving the way for Australian New Wave films.

h/t: vintag.es