The iconic "Mad Max" heroine is returning to the big screen, but Theron won't be playing her.

`Mad Max` director George Miller confirmed in May that he was moving ahead on his `Fury Road` spinoff centered around Furiosa, but the project isn't going to star the actress that helped make the character one of cinema's most iconic action heroines. Charlize Theron is sitting the Furiosa movie out because it's going to be a prequel focused on a younger iteration of the character. Miller has already ruled out de-aging Theron with VFX. How does Theron feel about the casting change? Bittersweet.

`It's a tough one to swallow,` Theron when asked about the Furiosa prequel movie. `Listen, I fully respect George, if not more so in the aftermath of making that film with him. He's a master, and I wish him nothing but the best.`

Theron added, `Yeah, it's a little heartbreaking, for sure. I really love that character, and I'm so grateful that I had a small part in creating her. She will forever be someone I think of and reflect on fondly. Obviously, I would love to see that story continue, and if he feels like he has to go about it this way, then I trust him in that manner. We get so hung up on the smaller details that we forget the thing that we emotionally tap into has nothing to do with that minute thing that we're focusing on.`

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Charlize Theron finds it "a little heartbreaking" that she was not recast for the #FuryRoad spinoff. The star opens up about George Miller's decision to bring in a younger actor for the Furiosa prequel, at the link in bio.

A post shared by Hollywood Reporter (@hollywoodreporter) on Jul 6, 2020 at 12:30pm PDT

Next up for Theron is a leading role in Gina Prince-Bythewood's Netflix comic book adaptation `The Old Guard,` which IndieWire has named the streaming giant's best action movie of 2020. `The Old Guard` begins streaming globally July 10.