For as long as Hollywood has been in existence, we have seen a variety of different projects adapted for different mediums such as television, film and video games. This typically occurs when a project strikes a particular chord amongst fans for any number of reasons and they begin to demand more of it, leading to the creative minds at the heart of said project taking their creativity up a notch. As a result, they expand upon the uniquely intriguing universes they crafted in the first place and subsequently picking up new fans in the process as this process also opens up said universe to those fans. Now one franchise in particular is hoping to do exactly that: Peacock has announced plans to produce a new series based upon the fiery and destructive video game series that debuted in the 1990’s, Twisted Metal.
Originally released in 1995, Twisted Metal was a video game in which players controlled one out of several cars which competed for victory in a chaotic free-for-all that saw them essentially fighting to the death. Now with over ten games under their belt, the Twisted Metal franchise has become a cult classic amongst video game fans that continues to permeate pop culture to this very day. Now fans of the franchise are in for a treat as Peacock has announced plans to produce a new series based upon the iconic video game, and they’re already enlisting the help of some of Hollywood’s best. Anthony Mackie, best known for his role as Falcon in the Captain America and Avengers franchises, is set to star in and executive produce the imaginative new series for Peacock, playing an obnoxious milkman who is thrust into a gruesome battle like players would typically find themselves in while playing Twisted Metal. Lisa Katz, president of scripted content for NBCUniversal, added “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.” The new series remains in the early stages of production, but fans can remain on the lookout for further updates regarding Peacock’s Twisted Metal series in the coming weeks.
More often, its television series or films that are turned into video games for children who are eager to play as their favorite characters. Peacock’s new series takes the opposite route however and aims to fulfill the demands of a completely different sect of fans in those who play video games in bringing one of the most iconic video games of the 1990’s to life. An ambitious effort to say the least, but one that is likely to pay off given the status Twisted Metal has garnered amongst fans; those fans will just have to remain patient as we await further updates on the live-action Twisted Metal series.