On May 24, 2024, the controversial third season of Fortnite Chapter 5 launched, thrusting players into a frenzied and chaotic map. A portion of it has been overtaken by a desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland occupied by sparse thrown-together structures. Players don't want to be caught traversing it on foot, either, seeing as massive weapon-equipped vehicles of all varieties roam the landscape. It's all very much Mad Max-inspired, and yet, there's no Mad Max tie-in to be seen.

The very same day Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 kicked off, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga released in theaters. After ages of development, the story of Mad Max: Fury Road's favorite Imperator Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) was told on the big screen. Thus, it seemed like an opportune time to add some Mad Max franchise skins to the item shop, or even as part of the Battle Pass. Instead, for whatever reason, Fallout skins were added to the game. While these aren't totally i?nappropriate for the dystopian setting, they don't quite mesh with the nitro-fueled mayhem the season has to o??ffer.

Though no concrete reason for the lack of Mad Max skins has come to light, it stands to reason there was some kind of licensing issue that prevented their inclusion. In the event such troubles are remedied before the season ends, however, Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3 could use, at the very least, these five of the many weird and wild Mad Max universe characters.

5. Nux (Mad Max: Fury Road)

Along with a host of other villains, Mad Max: Fury Road introduces the War Boys to the Mad Max mythology. They're a fanatical lot who serve the Citadel with pride, fiercely protecting its leadership without question. Among them is Nux (Nicholas Hoult), who goes from a deeply com??mitted War Boy to a hero of the Wasteland, ultimately giving his life to help the likes of Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) and Furiosa (Charlize Theron) defeat Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrn??e/Lachy Hulme) and his forces.

Nux would be an excellent addition to the latest Fortnite season. He has a unique look and is one of the most energetic characters in Fury Road, hence why he's so fondly remembered almost a decade after the film's release. Not to mention, his car, the Chevrole??t 5 Window Coupe 1934, would be a blast to drive around ??in. An exclusive emote featuring him spraying his teeth with chrome spray paint, a War Boys tradition in battle, would be the cherry on top.

4. Dementus (Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga)

Dementus (Chris Hemsworth) makes his Mad Max franchise debut in Furiosa, and he's quite a unique entity in a world full of them. The leader of the Biker Horde, h??e takes Furiosa in at the start of the film, only for them to drift apart in short order. As they clash and he gives up on her ever seeing him as her adoptive father, Dementus becomes increasingly manipulated by the Wasteland. By the film's end, he's nothing short of a charismatic yet violent warlord, ultimately killed by Furiosa?? after being defeated in battle.

Though he's a new addition to the Mad Max film canon, Dementus is more than worthy of a Fortnite skin. He has several costume changes throughout Furiosa that could justify alternate looks, his motorcycle chariot would be awesome to drive around the map, and, overall, his inclusion would be some nice (albeit a bit late) promotion for Furiosa. Besides, the character is just Chris Hemsworth running around in crazy costumes acting li??ke a wild man. Who wouldn't want to drop a few V-bucks on that?

3. Immortan Joe (Mad Max: Fury Road/Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga)

Dementus may be a threatening enemy, but he pales in comparison to Immortan Joe. The leader of the Citadel and the Cult of the V8, he uses the water supply of his fortress to control those below him. Despite the fact that he's falling apart at the seams due to age and poor health, his followers are entirely devoted to him and see him as a god, and he's more than willing to exploit them for his own gain. To put it simply, he's a tyrant, hence why it's so cathartic when Furiosa brutally takes his life at the end of Mad Max: Fury Road.

With his pale white skin and hair, piercing eyes, intricate armor, and grimacing breathing mask, Joe is tailor-made for a Fortnite skin and would be so cool to see in the Wasteland. His signature vehicle, The Gigahorse, which is comprised of two 1959 Cadillac Coupe d??e Villes along with a host of custom-made attachments, would be a force to be reckoned with on? the road, too. The Megalo Don skin evokes some of the main design elements seen on Joe, but having the real deal would be so much better.

2. Imperator Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road/Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga)

Since her franchise introduction in Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa has risen to become one of the most popular characters in the Mad Max franchise. As if that film doesn't drive home just how tough-as-nails, cool, and capable she is, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga makes that point abundantly clear. She goes from an abducted child to a full-on warrior, exacting revenge on Dementus for?? killing her mother and attempting to forcer her into a life of servitude to Immortan Joe.

Not only does Furiosa's overall badassery make her a perfect fit for Fortnite Chapter 5: Season 3, but so do her many looks ?throughout her two movie appearances. She could come with a range of different alternate attires. Long hair, short hair, face paint, no face paint, arm, no arm, the list goes on. The Tatra T815, better known as the War Rig, would be an awesome addition as well and make for solid opposition against the season's hulking War Bus.

1. Max Rockatansky

If there could only be one Mad Max skin added to Fortnite, then there's no denying that it should be Max Rockatansky (Mel Gibson, Tom Hardy) himself. The character has anchored the franchise since its beginning in 1979, braving all the perils that the Wasteland has to offer, defeating evil in various forms, helping those in need, and coming out the other side just fine. He's a big screen legend and has jumped to other forms of media like comics and video games, which is to say that his appearance in Fortnite would be entirely on brand.

Of course, the big question is, should the Gibson or Hardy version of the character be the one to soar from the Battle Bus? All things considered, both are viable picks. With three movies behind him, Gibson's Max comes with a few costumes to choose from. On the other hand, what Hardy's Max lacks in outfits he makes up for in relevance, as his interpretation is far newer and likely more recognizable to most Fortnite players. Between the two, there are several unique vehicle options?, too, completing the Max ensemble.

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With the long-awaited release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the overall Mad Max franchise has once again been thrust into the mainstream spotlight. The series started its engine way back in 1979 with director George Miller's Mad Max. Since then, it has become a multimedia juggernaut recognized the world over and beloved for its unique look and many weird and wild characters.

At the same time, just because it has a colorful cast and a sprawling world doesn't mean the Mad Max franchise is perfect. The lore a?nd overall timeline is a bit confusing, and there's a? lot of ground to cover with ancillary media like novels, video games, and comics. Therefore, it can appear daunting for those new to Miller's post-apocalyptic creation.

If you're one of those newcomers who was beckoned by the chaotic, action-packed Furiosa but doesn't want to watch every single Mad Max movie in order to prepare, here's what you ??should watch at the very least before checking out M?iller's latest creation.

Mad Max: Fury Road makes for a good starting point

Released in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road is a hard-hitting, visually-stunning watch. It centers on Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), who gets swept up in a feud between the vile ruler of the Citadel, Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne), and Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron). This marks her first appearance in the Mad Max series, and between the action, drama, and worldbuilding the film brings, it's quite an impressive one. After all, it got Hideo Kojima to go see it four times.

In terms of the Mad Max timeline, Fury Road takes place years after Furiosa, so there's an argument to be made that it should be saved for after a Furiosa screening. However, giving it a watch first can make Furiosa a more interesting viewing. Knowing the title character and who she ultimately becomes ahead of time adds a layer of intrigue to her origin story. It can be rewarding to know her final form and watch what she goes through to reach it. Think witnessing Anakin Skywalker's journey to become Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequels decades afte?r t??he completion of the original trilogy.

Not to mention, if you're a bit unsure if what you're getting into stylistically with Furiosa is for you, Fury Road is similar in aesthetic and tone. It can act as a good primer in that regard as well. If you like what Fury Road has to offer and want more, then you can go scratch that itch with Furiosa afterward.

The original Mad Max trilogy is optional

There's no denying the pop culture influence and overall science fiction awesomeness of the original Mad Max trilogy. Mad Max, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome are all worth a watch decades after their premieres, and Mel Gibson's rendition of Max Rockatansky remains iconic. With that said, these movies aren't all that essential to one's viewing of Furiosa.

The main reason why you can watch Furiosa without having seen the Mad Max trilogy is time. Furiosa and Fury Road are set in the mid-21st century, with the original trilogy spanning the mid-1980s to somewhere between the late 1990s to the early 2000s. These sets of films are so far apart chronologically and their casts are so radically different that, in terms of the core narrative, passing on the trilogy won't impact your understanding of Furiosa much at all.

The original trilogy may not be related to Furiosa at all

Then again, what if you simply want to learn as much about the lore of this universe as possible? Well, you might still be better off skipping the trilogy, or looking at it as its own entity. Whether the first three Mad Max movies truly are in the same continuity as Furiosa and Fury Road remains a hot topic. Miller hasn't shared a concrete verdi??ct, and fans continue to debate if Gibson and Hardy are the same Max, if they're related, or if the name is more of a mantle passed from person to person.

All of that is to say that ahead of Furiosa, you could watch all of the existing Mad Max movies to prepare if you so desire. If you're seeking narrative cohesion and nothing more, though, your best bet is to stick with Fury Road alone. It ties in the closest to Furiosa, forming a highly entertaining duology with it.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is now playing exclusively in theaters.

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