Sydney  - Australian director George Miller, who launched his career 30 years ago with the first Mad Max movie, will begin filming a fourth instalment in the franchise in August in the same Outback locations where actor Mel Gibson made his name as the road warrior.

"I'm still in the middle of casting, despite all the stuff we see on the 'net and so on," Miller told reporters at a press conference Saturday in Sydney. "I don't even know who the final cast will be."

Gibson is unlikely to reprise his starring role in the upcoming Fury Road, which will be shot in the New South Wales mining town of Broken Hill and in Sydney.

Oscar-winner Charlize Theron has been tipped as the female lead and British actor Tom Hardy as the new road warrior.

Gibson was ruled out for a return to the role two years ago when plans were first laid for a Mad Max 4.

Miller has found recent success with cartoon feature Happy Feet, about penguins, and was the creative juice behind the wildly successful sheep-pig film Babe. (dpa)