Aussie film director George Miller says pre-production work will start next week on the latest Mad Max film, which is to be produced in New South Wales.

Thirty years after the release of the original Mad Max, Miller is preparing to head out west for Fury Road - the fourth instalment of the popular franchise.

Filming on Fury Road will begin in NSW in August 2010.

Casting for the lead role is already underway, but the big question is whether Mel Gibson is set to return as the star.

Miller is staying tight-lipped about who he would like to take the lead.

It is rumoured Australian Sam Worthington and South African actress Charlize Theron could be cast.

"It could be Mel, it could be anyone. In fact, I'm looking around at these faces to see if anyone's quite interesting here," Miller said at a press conference.

NSW Premier Nathan Rees was even offered the role.

"What about you? Do you want it? Sorry, you'd have to get your hair cut," Miller said to Rees.

'Important boost'

Mr Rees says the project is an important boost for the state's economy, as well as the local film industry.

"The Mad Max films are iconic and the latest instalment - Fury Road - will be made right here in NSW," he said.

"In the hands of director George Miller, we will see one of the largest and most ambitious live action films ever made in Australia."

Mr Rees says the production will create around 540 jobs over two-and-a-half years.

"Times have been tough for our local industry," he said.

"I am pleased that our assistance from the Film and Television Industry Attraction Fund helped secure this film for NSW."

'Like football'

Miller launched his career with Max Max in 1979. He has since gone on to direct box office hit Happy Feet and produce Babe.

He says Fury Road is important for the Australian film industry.

"Hollywood has cut its production in half. Big movies like Fury Road and Happy Feet are rare and competitively sought after in all the filmmaking regions of the world," Miller said.

"The production agreements have been a long time in the making. Premier Rees and his team have worked like Trojans to ensure this substantial investment comes into this country.

"These are complex and challenging films and funding them is a big leap of faith by Warner Bros.

"Not only does it help fuel the local economy, but it means many talented people get a chance to practise their craft and lift their skills," he added.

"Making movies is like football. How can you achieve excellence if you get to play only once in a blue moon?"

CarriageWorks, based in Sydney's Redfern, will be used for development work on Fury Road, as well as a motion capture studio for Miller's upcoming Happy Feet 2.

Around 30 weeks of filming of Fury Road will take place in and around Broken Hill.

The original Mad Max was filmed in Victoria, Mad Max 2 was filmed around Broken Hill and the third Mad Max was shot in Coober Pedy, South Australia.