The Twisted Metal video game series was a hallmark of gaming in the 1990s and 2000s and has recently seen a rival in the form of the Twisted Metal television series on Peacock. Starring Anthony Mackie, Season 1 of the series was released in 2023 and received positive reviews due to its dark humor from Forbes and The Ringer. The premiere season created the backstory for the world by following John Doe (played by Anthony Mackie) journey to find a better life by being instructed to deliver a mysterious package across a dangerous wasteland. He befriends and sparks a romantic relationship with car thief Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz).
Season 2 premiered on Peacock in July, with all the episodes currently released on the streaming service, and follows John Doe and Quiet’s quest to win the Twisted Metal tournament, a demolition-derby-style contest run by Calypso (Anthony Carrigan), with the winner earning one wish. Similar to the first season, Season 2 continues its ability to tie dark humor, great driving stunts, and surprising heartwarming moments into a compelling video game adaptation.
Samoa Joe Shines as Sweet Tooth
If you have ever played Twisted Metal, odds are you have seen the character Sweet Tooth on the box, and he is heavily featured in the series, starring Joe Seanoa (Pro Wrestler Samoa Joe) and Will Arnett as Sweet Tooth. While Arnett provides his voice, Samoa Joe performs the character with other cast members interacting with him on set. Mike Mitchell, who plays Stu, is Sweet Tooth’s main companion, which created a bond between him and Joe on and off set.
“We’ve known each other for, you know, a year at this point, a couple of years at this point,” Mitchell said. “And for Season 2, when you first see us again, where we bond together and we have this relationship. And I think it was helpful in that way of Joe and I had gotten close. And when you see us again, we like in this world, we are close.”
Samoa Joe is a veteran professional wrestler competing in multiple organizations, including WWE and currently AEW. Richard de Klerk, who plays Mr. Grimm, is Sweet Tooth’s main rival in season two. He respected Joe’s performance before getting cast in the series and was excited to work with him
“He’s an incredible man and an incredible actor,” Mitchell said. “Like what he does through that mask. I remember there was one moment in season one where I was watching it with my wife and I said, man, he is so good.”
The Series Balances Mayhem With Heart and Easter Eggs
Television shows and movies mostly feature a ton of CGI, which, if not applied correctly, could take viewers out of the experience. Twisted Metal uses practical effects combined with CGI to transport the viewer into its dystopian world. The show also features multiple fight scenes throughout the series, and for Richard de Klerk, ensuring the physicality was authentic was crucial..
“It’s choreography,” said de Klerk. “It’s like a dance. We had an amazing stunt team, and it was a very collaborative experience, especially for that first scene that I shot in the graveyard. I remember we were shooting it, and I’ve done a lot of stunts in my career, so I know about the distance, but it’s basically when you’re doing a stunt, you have to sell a hit. You’re not hitting somebody. You got this much room between the two people. You have to sell the angle. It’s choreography, not just with the actors, but it’s also choreography with the camera.”
For Mike Mitchell, Twisted Metal balances presenting personal moments and action, giving hardcore fans of the game tons of hidden gems and surprises to watch out for throughout the series.
“We can have these dystopian moments where we’re still human beings. We still laugh, we still love, we still fight for something, right? And each one of the characters in the show is fighting for something. That’s why I think it’s actually a really rich tapestry to be a part of, to watch. I’m a huge fan of the show. I think people who played the game can enjoy it. And I think people who have never played the game can enjoy it.
Twisted Metal is available to watch on Peacock in the United States.
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This story was originally reported by GameDaily on Sep 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add GameDaily as a Preferred Source by clicking here.