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Charlize Theron reacts to Furiosa and plans chat with Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlize Theron reacts to Furiosa and plans chat with Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlize Theron hosted the fourth annual block party for her Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project on Saturday, where she also shared her reaction to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Furiouswhich was released at the end of May, served as a prequel to the 2015 Mad Max: Fury Roadand saw Anya Taylor-Joy, who portrayed the early life of the warrior Imperator Furiosa, whom Theron played in Fury Road.

Theron confirmed that she had seen the new film and said The Hollywood Reporter“It’s incredible, it’s a beautiful film.” When asked if she had spoken to Taylor-Joy throughout the process or at all since the release, Theron explained, “No, we really tried to connect. It was one of those moments – we can actually make a comedy out of it. We keep running into each other and in places where we don’t have time to really talk to each other, so we’re constantly saying, ‘Oh my God, okay, let’s get together!’ And then life takes over. But it will happen when it’s right.”

Currently, Theron is focused on CTAOP, the organization she founded in 2007 to support the health and safety of young people in South Africa. The star was born in South Africa and CTAOP’s programs have reached over 4 million young people there since its inception, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, education and gender-based violence.

When Theron looks back on the last 17 years and what she knows now and what she wished she had known then, she says, “I wish I was more at ease with the fact that things don’t change overnight. I think when we started, it was very overwhelming because these are really big problems – they’re not easy to fix and unfortunately they’ve been around for a long time. And because we’re dealing with such a broad issue, we looked specifically at HIV and AIDS. We really developed a more holistic approach and understood that there are a lot of things that we need to consider when we talk about young people.”

Lee Isaac Chung, Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Charlize Theron and Patrick Crowley attend Charlize Theron's Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) Block Party

Lee Isaac Chung, Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Charlize Theron and producer Patrick Crowley.

Presley Ann/Getty Images for CTAOP

Saturday’s block party, held on the Universal Studios lot, again supported the organization while celebrating the release of a new Universal film. This year Twisters A toast was made to the film, in the presence of director Lee Isaac Chung and stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Brandon Perea.

During the event, Theron thanked the Twisters team for participating, “because I know you’re coming to the end of a very long week of press travel – whatever you call it, a vast desert that you have to cross. I’ve been through this, it’s exhausting and I just want to thank you for taking the time and energy to be here tonight. It’s hard work and I don’t care, I’m going to make you work tonight anyway.”

Chung took the microphone and responded, “I’m so touched by what you just said, but honestly, we love being here (for) the work you do with CTAOP. Movies are only meant to bring good things to people, I honestly believe that. That’s what we’re trying to do as a team with this film. We’re trying to throw a party for the summer, so it feels fitting to be here at this party.”

Lainey Wilson and Tanner Adell, who star in the film, performed at the event. The outdoor area was also filled with many Twisters-inspired features, including a wind machine – which Powell and Edgar-Jones tried out together – and a mechanical bull. The CTAOP Block Party was sponsored by Dior, CAA, Breitling, Universal Pictures and Solyco Capital.