Almost exactly one year ago today, Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions officially announced that they were developing a live-action television series based on the Twisted Metal video games. Now comes word (via Deadline) that the live-action Twisted Metal show has been ordered to series by the Peacock streaming service. Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) will star in and executive produce the series.
Based on an original take by Deadpool and Zombieland screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, Twisted Metal is center on
a motor-mouthed outsider who is 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.
Mackie’s character is
John Doe, a smart-ass milkman who talks as fast as he drives. With no memory of his past, John gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make his wish of finding community come true, but only if he can survive an onslaught of savage vehicular combat.
Twisted Metal is written and executive produced by by Cobra Kai writer Michael Jonathan Smith. Smith also serves as showrunner. Reese and Wernick executive produce the series alongside Smith, Mackie, Will Arnett and Marc Forman of Electric Avenue, Jason Spire of Inspire Entertainment, Peter Principato of Artists First, Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan from PlayStation Productions, and Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. The series is co-produced by Sony Pictures Television, Playstation Productions, and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
Lisa Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, provided the following statement:
Twisted Metal has been a global phenomenon for more than 25 years but it was the creative vision for this live-action adaptation, led by Michael Jonathan Smith, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, that blew us away. Also Anthony Mackie starring made it undeniable! This adrenaline-infused comedy series is in expert hands with our partners at Sony Pictures Television, Playstation Productions and Universal Television, and will be the perfect addition to Peacock as we continue to look for uniquely entertaining programs.”
Jeff Frost, President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, and Jason Clodfelter, co-President of Sony Pictures Television Studios, added:
We are thrilled that our first series with our good friends at Peacock is with our amazing partners at Electric Avenue, Universal Television and colleagues at PlayStation Productions. Michael Jonathan Smith and Rhett and Paul have ingeniously brought this high-action comedy to life and we are so fortunate to have Anthony at the center of the show. We look forward to this incredible team blowing audiences away with this twisted and inventive concept.”
And PlayStation’s Asad Qizilbash said,
Twisted Metal is one of PlayStation’s most beloved franchises. We are thrilled to have such an amazing creative team and partners working together who have such passion for this iconic property. We can’t wait for fans to see what we have planned for them.”
An episode count was not revealed, but it was said that each episode of Twisted Metal will be a half-hour.