Could Charlize Theron Get her Mad Max 'Thunderdome' On?

Now that Charlize Theron doesn't have The Tourist on her to-do list, could the actress be heading for Thunderdome?

Theron, who pulled out of the thriller about an American tourist who at Interpol's request, goes undercover to entrap an ex-lover suspected of being a global criminal, is said to be in talks to join the fourth installment of the Mad Max franchise, according to E! Online.

The sci-fi Mad Max, written and directed by George Miller (The Witches of Eastwick), premiered in 1980 and starred Mel Gibson in a story about society's breakdown, murder and vengeance. It so far has spawned two sequels, 1981's Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and 1985's Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, both of which also starred Gibson as the hero in desperate need of a shower.

The third sequel, which Theron is said to have landed the lead - Miller said in 2007 that he feels Gibson is now too old to star in the pic - could also star Tom Hardy (Black Hawk Down, Sucker Punch).

Story lines - and character names - are being kept under wraps, but for a franchise that hasn't struck gold at the boxoffice since the mid-'80s, replacing Gibson with Theron is a stroke of genius. Moviegoers already have responded to Theron in action films - despite its critical drubbing, Aeon Flux was a solid effort for the Oscar winner (Monster).

Theron, meanwhile, can be heard in theaters starting Friday as the narrator in Astro Boy.

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