Everything to Know About Peacock's Twisted Metal Series

The Super Mario Bros. Movie isn’t the only video game adaptation coming to Peacock. The biggest movie of the year hits the streaming service on August 3, but Twisted Metal revs up its engines just before that when the TV adaptation of the PlayStation game series makes its premiere. Twisted Metal isn’t as iconic as everyone’s favorite mustachioed plumber (what is?), but it is a long-running and popular game series that will bring Mad Max-style action and outlandish characters to Peacock. Here’s everything you need to know about the show. 

What Video Game Is Twisted Metal Based On?

Based on the video game series that began with 1995’s Twisted Metal and spawned seven sequels and a few spin-offs, Twisted Metal is a madcap demolition derby. In the games, players choose a character — typically a somewhat macabre-yet-goofy one, like series mascot Sweet Tooth, an insane clown with a flaming head — and get behind the wheel for a driving battle to the death. The winner is granted a single wish. 

Who Stars in Twisted Metal?

Pictured: (l-r) Anthony Mackie as John Doe, Stephanie Beatriz as Quiet. Photo: Skip Bolen/Peacock

The TV show, which premieres on July 27, will follow an original story, though. Working off a script penned by Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the upcoming half-hour series stars Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and new Captain America in the MCU) as John Doe, an everyman character who must traverse a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Along the way, he’ll be joined by Quiet, a car thief played by Brooklyn 99’s ​​Stephanie Beatriz, and face off against Sweet Tooth. (The killer clown will be played by pro wrestler Samoa Joe but voiced by Will Arnett.)

Peacock’s official synopsis teases that the show “follows a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a trigger-happy car thief, he'll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.”

Also appearing in the series are Thomas Haden Church, who plays Agent Stone, a character from the games who works for the government and has their own reasons for getting behind the wheel. Scream star Neve Campbell appears as another character from the games, Raven, a goth seeking revenge. Richard Cabral plays Loud, Quiet’s protective brother. Tahj Vaughans, Mike Mitchell, Lou Beatty Jr., Michael Carollo, and Chloe Fineman also star.

Check out the trailer for Twisted Metal

The first teaser for the series came out in the spring, and it gives a good idea of the half-hour show’s tone. It’s action-packed, with crazy clowns and guns bolted onto hot rods, and it’s funny. Set to Len’s great ‘90s song “Steal My Sunshine,” the teaser has Mackie’s John Doe getting ready to role. 

Last month, Peacock shared a clip from a scene where John Doe and Sweet Tooth come to blows — outside of their cars, which seems to benefit the hulking Sweet Tooth more than it does our protagonist. 

Filming for the series, which was created by Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions, took place in New Orleans last summer. 

When Does Twisted Metal premiere, and how do you watch it?

All ten episodes of Twisted Metal will premiere exclusively on Peacock on July 27.