By Garry Maddox
You could call it a tribute. An homage.
But it looks suspiciously like a Chinese filmmaker has ripped off Mad Max: Fury Road with an action film called Mad Shelia: Virgin Road.
That's Shelia, not Sheila, which would be a better name for a female Mad Max.
The new version, which has been described as "an unofficial quasi-remake", centres on a female bounty hunter who wanders the desert disguised as a man then goes on a wild chase across a desert to save a group of virgins from being sold to leather-clad, goggle-wearing warlords.
Desert chase ... Fuo Xiao stars as Xi Liya in Mad Shelia: Virgin Road.Credit: Screen grab
As the trailer shows, there are more than a few similarities between George Miller's acclaimed action film, which won six Oscars and was nominated for four more this year.
The desert landscapes. The post-apocalyptic vehicles, clothes and weapons. The flares that arc through the sky.
Fury Road took $US378 million at the worldwide box office but missed what could have been a windfall when it was not released in China. One of the theories was that it was too "gruesome" for Chinese authorities who only allow a limited number of overseas movies into their cinemas every year.
Mad Shelia is streaming on the Chinese video on demand service TenCent Video.
Just a hint of Mad Max in the Chinese version.Credit: Screen grab
But inspiring filmmakers and artists of all kinds - and being ripped off - is nothing new for Mad Max films.
Hollywood made Waterworld, Mad Max at sea. And many low-budget films from around the world have taken cues from the stories, characters and post-apocalytic style since the first instalment in 1979.
Familiar ... Mad Shelia: Virgin RoadCredit: Screen grab
The emergence of Mad Shelia comes as the black and white version, Mad Max: Fury Road Chrome & Black Edition, screens in selected cinemas this weekend before a DVD release.
But even if there is a Mad Shelia sequel planned, Mad Max fans might have to wait for Miller to shoot two planned new instalments of his action series.
"I'm very interested in making a smaller film before I embark on something bigger," Miller told Fairfax recently. "There are a couple of things I'm working on."