NOW it's not just Max who's mad.

Filming of the fourth instalment in the Mad Max movie franchise - Mad Max 4: Fury Road - has been moved from outback NSW to the African nation of Namibia - and it's left a number of people fuming, The Daily Telegraph reported.



Due to be filmed in Broken Hill, it was to provide a shot in the arm for the local film industry - until heavy rain turned the barren desert in the area into a sea of blooming wild flowers. It was then decided to shift production to the African republic.

Former premier Nathan Rees, who said he fought tooth and nail to get it filmed in NSW, has demanded Arts Minister George Souris don the mantle of the Road Warrior and win back the blockbuster for Broken Hill.

Mr Rees said his government "moved heaven and earth" to make sure Mad Max 4 returned to the place that launched Max and Mel Gibson to international fame in 1981.

But to get it back, Mr Souris may have to also move heaven and earth - literally.

After a decade of drought that reduced the area around Broken Hill into an arid lifeless wasteland - precisely the kind of conditions that Max enjoys - some rains earlier this year have literally made the deserts bloom. Max, it seems, is yet another victim of climate change.

The sad news broke in the barrier country in August and last month it emerged the production was heading to Namibia. But, wouldn't you know it, now it has started raining there too.

In fact, Namibia has had its heaviest rainfall in 120 years. It seems like there's just never a post-apocalyptic wasteland around when you need one.

Displaying an eerie knowledge of the Mad Max series, Mr Rees took the news to heart and demanded Mr Souris get not just mad, but also even.

"It really is the last of the V8 Interceptors," he lamented.

"The Arts Minister's job isn't about going to opening nights - it's about making sure that there is actually something to open.

"As Commander Macaffee said: 'People want their heroes back, Max!'

"George Souris needs to be that hero and meet immediately with the producers of Fury Road to do whatever it takes to get this production back where it belongs, in NSW."

A spokesman for Mr Souris said: "We can't control the weather."