etition on change.org calls on Avalanche Studios to cast an Aussie to voice the character of Max in forthcoming Mad Max video game; petition starter says Mad Max is an important part of Australian cinema and pop culture and that his Aussie identity should be retained
Mad Max fans are up in arms over the casting of an American as the lead character in a video game version of the classic Aussie film to be released next year.
Gamers and fans of the iconic Mel Gibson film have taken to a petition on change.org to register their disgust at the decision to give Mad Max an American accent in the forthcoming Mad Max video game.
Petition starter Stephen Farrelly, the editor of AusGamers, says the decision to give Max a “generic” American accent is an insult to Mad Max’s Australian heritage.
“Mad Max is an important part of Australian cinema and pop-culture history,” says Stephen in his petition.
“However, the series is as equally important worldwide, and is arguably one of the most recognisable and referenced post-apocalyptic tales ever told. The titular hero, Max, was played by Mel Gibson whose Australian heritage came across as a gruff, stoic and hardened portrayal of a man who’d lost everything, but still had a sense of hope.
“Avalanche Studios has, however, chosen to have Max voiced by a “generic” American voice-actor so that Max can appeal to a “generic” crowd. This negates the hero’s place in popular-culture and is a bit of an affront to Australians who hold the character and movies so dear (and also to global purists).
“We’re not asking for Mel Gibson, but finding an Australian voice-actor who can channel the Max of the popular films would just be the right — and reverent — thing to do.”
Mad Max fans from around the world left outraged comments on the petition, including:
James Ward, from Adelaide: “Mad Max is an Australian Cultural icon in a world saturated with American media and entertainment. It will NOT be Mad Max in anything other than name without that feature firmly in place.”
Benjamin Last, from Victoria: “The post apocalyptic world is set Australia. It only stands to reason that it should be portrayed by an Australian. I very much doubt a “generic American” would be surviving out there in the Australian desert when the world has gone to hell.”
Daniel Chalmers, from Melbourne: “Carn mate, you just gotta get a true blue Aussie bloke to do the yapping in this game. Hearing some yank gas bagging in a Mad Max game is just piss weak. Hoo Roo!”
Michael Mann, from the United Kingdom: “I am signing because Mad Max is an iconic Australian character, and to deprive the Australian people – and the worldwide gaming community – of one of their beloved character’s core attributes is an insult to the cultural legacy of Mad Max. As a proud Briton, I can only begin to imagine the level of anger and indignance I would feel if Avalanche had instead announced a James Bond game in which the titular character was portrayed as having a generic, gruff American accent.”
Jeff Robinson, from Auckland, New Zealand: “Because the movie was set in Australia…the Australian Outback and cultural references are an intrinsic part of the movies, leaving it out would be like making James Bond an American. Don’t do it for the sake of all that is good in this world.”
Stephen said he saw a preview of the Mad Max game at the E3 gaming conference in Los Angeles last week and was horrified when he heard Max speak for the first time.
“Everything else about the game is true to the origins of the Mad Max films – except for Max’s awful American accent. All the Australians at E3 were appalled. We hope that Avalanche Studios will listen to what Mad Max fans have to say and will cast an Australian in the role for the game’s release next year.”
For live signature updates and comments on the petition: