Peacock’s live-action adaptation of the post-apocalyptic video game franchise Twisted Metal is revving up for an even wilder ride in its second season. After setting streaming records and wowing audiences to demand the renewal of a second season, showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith has now asserted that he’s turbocharging the entire show.
Season 1 introduced us to Anthony Mackie’s John Doe, a wisecracking delivery man with amnesia in a post-apocalyptic United States. Tasked with transporting mysterious packages across vast, desolate highways, John Doe has to contend with brutal marauders, cannibals, and savages that depict how far civilization has fallen.
The second season will not be any different. According to a recent interview with NBC Insider, Smith, who cut his teeth on Cobra Kai, teased that Twisted Metal will return with a mix of nostalgia, mayhem, and character-driven drama.
Following the season finale cliffhanger that saw Raven hold John Doe hostage in a bid to have him represent her in the tournament, Smith has revealed that the tournament will now take center stage in Season 2.
Of course, this means that several characters will be making their debuts, including fan favorites such as Calypso, Axel, Dollface, and Mr. Grimm. Calypso, who was mentioned more than once in the first season, is the organizer of the titular tournament. Twisted Metal’s sinister host can make the tournament winners’ dreams come true – with a twist. The prize often turns into a curse, leaving the victor as the ultimate loser.
Dollface has already been introduced, with the twist that she is John Doe’s long-lost sister. Dollface’s troubled past began after her mother’s death, which her father blamed her for. This ordeal had a great impact on her personality, as it made her grow up as a reserved person. Later on, she begins working for a mask craftsman, Mr. Kreel, as his assistant.
Unfortunately, after she accidentally spills coffee on Mr. Kreel’s workplace, he unfairly punishes her by fusing a mask to her face, which can only be unlocked by a key he holds. Consequently, she joins the Twisted Metal tournament after being persuaded by Calypso, with her one wish being to free herself from the cursed mask’s grip.
Mr. Grimm will be a difficult one to tackle in the show considering he’s had several different versions in the game. In one version, he’s the actual Grim Reaper, while in another, he’s a Vietnam vet who ate the body of his deceased friend to survive.
Smith couldn’t hide his excitement about bringing this mysterious character to life, saying, “[Mr. Grimm] is my favorite and I’m excited to capture what the fans are excited about seeing, but also [answering the question of]: ‘How does he exist in the world we’ve set up?'”
Ultimately, Axel might become a fan favorite due to his bizarre man-tire combo. His wild design of a man strapped onto two gigantic wheels in a Vitruvian Man pose will certainly pose the biggest challenge for the creative team behind the surprisingly popular live-action adaptation of one of Sony’s most iconic but franchises. As Smith stated in the interview, “We have to get Axel right.”
Fortunately, Smith is confident that as long as the fans want it, Twisted Metal can keep delivering the wild, fun, and sometimes emotional stories that have made the first season a hit.
