‘Mad Max’ to spark resurgence in post-apocalyptic movies

Post-apocalyptic movies have gotten off to a slow start this year.
After nine such movies in 2013 and eight last year, there has been just one major title released so far in 2015 (“Insurgent”).
But the genre will have a resurgence next month when “Mad Max: Fury Road” hits theaters. The fourth movie in the Australian action series opens in the U.S. on May 15.
The new film stars Tom Hardy as the title character navigating through a desert wasteland teaming with crazy bad guys.
This spring, an Australian zombie apocalypse movie “Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead” received great reviews, but a limited theatrical release in the U.S. Look for it on DVD later this year.
Another post-apocalyptic movie, “Turbo Kid,” is now on the film festival circuit. It received critical acclaim as well. It should be a winner on home video.
This summer, the latest movie in the Terminator robot-apocalypse series will be released. “Terminator Genisys,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emila Clarke, is set to hit theaters on July 1.
Also on the way is “Air,” starring Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou. Set for theatrical release on Aug. 14, “Air” is about two custodians who struggle to hold onto their sanity while living in an underground bunker with cryogenically frozen people meant to re-populate society.
On Sept. 18,  “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” opens. It is the second in a planned trilogy.
In September 2016, the supposed final film in the “Resident Evil” zombie apocalypse series is set for release. “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” stars the stunning Milla Jovovich.
Hollywood never seems to run out of ways to destroy the world.
I count at least 20 post-apocalyptic films in development or production. Half of them are sequels or remakes, including “Independence Day 2.” “World War Z 2” and “Planet of the Apes 3.”

Photos: Movie posters for “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Wyrmwood” and “Terminator Genisys.”