The Main Force Patrol (MFP) was a prominent group in the originalMad Max, but it essentially disappeared as the franchise continued. The MFP was a police force in theworld ofMad Max, and served as the main protagonists of the first film. Several major characters, like Jim Goose (Steve Bisley), Fifi (Roger Ward), and even Max himself were members of the MFP. It was also Max’s involvement in the MFP that put him in Toecutter’s (Hugh Keays-Byrne) sights, led to the death of his wife and son, and turned him into the Road Warrior.
TheMad Maxfranchise, however, quickly grew too big for the MFP. By the second film,Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, the Wasteland had gotten much more dangerous and brutal, and the police force didn’t fit its tone or story anymore.Mad Maxhas always had a kind of folklore quality to it, though, and the films never outright explained what became of the MFP or its members, save for Max. The franchise did, however, hide some of the group’s story, and it explains exactly what happened to the MFP inMad Max.
Though they were a massive part of the originalMad Max, the MFP almost entirely faded from the rest of the franchise. InMad Max 2: The Road Warrior, some members of Lord Humungus' gang wore MFP road leathers and drove yellow Interceptors, but they didn’t mention the police organization in any way.ByMad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, Max himself and his worn-down jacket were the only reminders that the MFP had any role in the franchise at all. The newest films,Mad Max: Fury RoadandFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga, barely even referenced the MFP.
TheMad Maxsequels didn’t just give the MFP a smaller role, however, they also hinted that the MFP had been dissolved entirely. The leather-clad raiders inMad Max 2heavily implied that the former officers had given up trying to maintain law and order and had instead become the raiders they once fought.Then, a prequel comic toMad Max: Fury Roadoutright confirmed that the MFP had disbanded, and all of its officers were either dead or roaming the Wasteland independently. The only reference to the MFP in the film was Immortan Joe’s Gigahorse, which had an MFP badge on its dashboard.
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It seems that the Wasteland inMad Maxsimply bested the MFP, and the police force couldn’t keep up with its savagery. Even in the firstMad Max, the MFP was severely understaffed and underfunded.It’s not a stretch to say that the Wasteland, which got progressively more brutal with eachMad Maxfilm, simply chewed the MFP up and spit it out. The dissolution of the MFP also helps explain why the Wasteland is so apocalyptic, as their absence let lawlessness and themain villains ofMad Maxtake control.
Though the MFP has been disbanded, that doesn’t mean it can’t have an effect on futureMad Maxfilms. In fact, one former officer of the MFP, Jim Goose, was supposed to have a much bigger role in the franchise already.Lord Humungus' original backstory inMad Max 2was supposed to reveal that he was actually Goose, and that his crash in the originalMad Maxhad both badly burned his face and turned him into a warlord.That twist was cut from the film, but an upcomingMad Maxmovie could still use the MFP for a similarly emotional twist.
Mad Max: The Wasteland
Release Date TBA
The next film in the franchise,Mad Max: The Wasteland, is still a mystery, and it’s not even clear if the project is still in development.IfThe Wastelandis being made, however, it could easily include a former MFP to dive deeper into Max’s backstory and better connect to the original Mel Gibson films. As theFury Roadprequel comic confirmed, some officers of the MFP were still roaming the Wasteland for years, and Max could easily run into one. Reintroducing an MFP character would also help make Max’s story more cohesive, especially consideringTom Hardy will likely be recast inThe Wasteland.
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An MFP character would not only help make the third main actor to play Max Rockatansky fit better with the previous two, they would also giveThe Wastelanda chance to dive into Max’s madness. So far, Max’s descent into madness has only been shown in how he relates to strangers, like Pappagallo’s tribe inThe Road Warrioror Furiosa inFury Road. If he had a chance to meet someone from the MFP, though,The Wastelandcould contrast the man Max once was with the survivor he became. In that sense, the MFP is an exciting, untapped resource forMad Max.
Mad Max
Cast
Mad Max is a 1979 sci-fi action film from director and writer George Miller. Mel Gibson stars as Max a police officer in the future who goes after a gang of vicious motorcycle thugs. The film led to a long-running franchise including The Road Warrior, Beyond Thunderdome, Fury Road, and Furiosa.
