When “Twisted Metal” arrived on Sony PlayStation back in 1995, adapting it as a movie or tv show seemed inevitable. The series, about contestants playing a deadly game of destruction derby in a dystopian future, practically writes itself. As the years went on, the franchise lost its popularity. And the chances of an adaptation actually happening began to dwindle. But no intellectual property stays dormant for long, and NBC’s streaming service Peacock is working on a “Twisted Metal” tv show.
The game’s most famous character is Sweet Tooth, a killer clown with flaming hair. For a character so sadistic, you need someone who is able to project vicious menace. So imagine our delight that the role is going to is none other than Will Arnett. Arnett might seem like an unusual fit for a character to play a terrifying clown. However, the announcement from Peacock indicates that he is only doing the voice.
Arnett is also an executive producer on the series, and it sounds like the show will be more of a comedy than anything else. The original games were more comedic in the beginning, so perhaps Arnett wants to help bring the series back to its roots.
Killing in the Name of…Laughter!
Other people involved on the creative side include Michael Jonathan Smith (“Cobra Kai”), who will act as the showrunner and head writer. Kitao Sakurai, who has also worked on “The Eric Andre Show,” will also be a producer and director. The show itself is was developed by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (“Deadpool.”) The mix of people with backgrounds in action and comedy definitely shows that “Twisted Metal” will probably be bold, brash, and brutal.
Meet Your New Contestants
The show will also feature an all star cast who will be jumping into the arena. Anthony Mackie, who is also an executive producer, plays John Doe, an amnesiac hoping to regain his memory and win the contest. Stephanie Beatriz plays Quiet, a woman forced to grow up without speaking, who teams up with John Doe for her own vendetta. Thomas Haden Church is Agent Stone, a brutal highway patrolman who wants to wrest control of the American wasteland. Neve Campbell has a recurring role in the show as a woman only described as Raven.
The cast and creative teams shows that Sony Pictures Television is deeply invested in making this a big new franchise. Peacock also needs solid programming to stay competitive in the streaming wars. However, since the last game was about a decade ago, they have their work cut out for them. If they can capture the mayhem of the original games, it will definitely be something to watch.
We’ll let you know what we hear about this and other news.
