Brace yourselves for a wild and bumpy ride into the chaotic, clown-ridden, post-apocalyptic world of Twisted Metal, as the beloved PlayStation game morphs into a 10-episode, high-octane, action-comedy television series.
The show’s latest trailer, as part of Summer Game Fest, takes us to a grimy arcade (or perhaps a row of slot machines?), as Marvel Cinematic Universe star Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier) plays the motor-mouthed outsider, John Doe, and Will Arnett voicing the sinister, clown-faced icon, Sweet Tooth, face-off.
This showdown is awkwardly amusing, featuring Sweet Tooth, a physical portrayal by AEW wrestler Joe Seanoa (Samoa Joe), pushing Mackie’s John Doe against a cabinet, while coercing him into singing along to Sisqó’s ‘Thong Song’. This scenario, peppered with witty back-and-forth quips, paints an eccentric picture of the demented universe that Twisted Metal fans will find delightfully familiar.
Twisted Metal follows the narrative of John Doe, an amnesiac who “talks as fast as he drives”. His journey through a post-apocalyptic wasteland involves delivering a mysterious package to an outpost. Assisting him in this risky undertaking is car thief Quiet, played by Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), while they are persistently pursued by patrolman Agent Stone, portrayed by Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man 3).
Peacock’s Twisted Metal adaptation has an impressive roster behind the scenes as well with showrunners Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland) and writer Michael Jonathan Smith (Cobra Kai). Joining the cast alongside Mackie, Arnett, and Seanoa are Thomas Haden Church, Stephanie Beatriz, and Neve Campbell (Scream).
The series promises to not only pay homage to the PlayStation series but also expand upon its dark and sinister lore. The question that lingers, though, is whether Twisted Metal can match the standards set by HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation. Recently, the video game industry has been reaping the rewards of successful live-action adaptations, setting a high bar for Twisted Metal to meet, or perhaps even exceed.
Despite its roots in PlayStation history, Twisted Metal weaves a brand new story, loosely based on the original game. The anticipation of experiencing Twisted Metal’s gritty aesthetic blended with a fresh narrative is sure to keep fans on their toes.
Mark your calendars for this car-crushing, post-apocalyptic journey. Twisted Metal is set to premiere on July 27, 2023, on Peacock.
Whether this series will join the pantheon of successful video game adaptations or take a nosedive remains to be seen. For now, fans can whet their appetites with the newly released trailer, preparing for the wild ride that’s soon to come.
In the meantime, there’s also buzz about a Twisted Metal video game reboot for the PS5. The Success of the TV series could act as a catalyst in propelling this rumor into reality.
