If Mad Max: Fury Road had gone before cameras back when George Miller had originally intended, the director said it would have starred the late Heath Ledger instead of Tom Hardy.

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"Every time Heath [Ledger] would come through Sydney, he’d call in and we’d chat about Max," Miller told The Daily Beast . "He had that same thing that Mel and Tom Hardy have—that maleness, charisma, and restless energy, which you need to play a relatively still character."However, Ledger's death in 2008 meant Miller would never get his wish. "The world lost someone great when he went," he added. "Tom [Hardy] was the next to walk through the door that had that vibe."Mad Max: Fury Road is now out in theaters, and you can read our glowing review to find out why it's an absolute must-see. Despite the film's modest opening , Miller already has a title nailed down for the next entry in the series, should it come to fruition.Do you think Ledger would have been a good Max? How do you think his rendition would have compared to Hardy's? Let us know in the comments.

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can chat with him about anime and share in his love for Metal Gear Solid on Twitter