Originally published May 20, 2020. Updated May 19, 2020.
Mad Max: Fury Road nearly cut the guitar-wielding, fan-favourite character, Doof Warrior, thanks to negative test screenings.
Mad Max: Fury Road was a huge hit with both fans and critics. It’s whacky and zany characters were a big part of what made the film so enjoyable, with a particular standout being the crazy, guitar playing maniac known as the Doof Warrior.
This interesting individual certainly caught the eye of many but apparently he was nearly cut from the film. Speaking to The New York Times, director George Miller said that early reaction to this character wasn’t as positive as it is now:
“The Doof Warrior tested really badly at first. We had temp music, and whenever the Doof Warrior played in the test screening, it was the same riff, so it got annoying. A couple people at the studio said, ‘Oh, we’ve got to drop the Doof Warrior. I said, ‘No no, it’s way too early to even think of that.’”
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Luckily, once Junkie XL’s score was inserted into the film, opinions were changed and the character remained in the picture. A close miss! While not a character key to events, he certainly added a lot to the film’s crazy aesthetic.
