Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions and Universal Television's Twisted Metal has cast Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Encanto star Stephanie Beatriz in its upcoming live-action adaptation.
Announced by Peacock, Beatriz will appear in the upcoming action-comedy series as one of its co-leads. Beatriz will play Quiet, a "badass car thief who acts purely on instinct." Quiet is a new character created for the series. Per her character description, she comes from "a community that oppressed her into silence," and is now looking for "her place in this dark, chaotic world." However, Quiet becomes consumed by a need for revenge, joining Anthony Mackie's (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) John Doe on an adventure across a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland) were tapped to develop PlayStation's Twisted Metal video game franchise into live-action in February 2021, with the series landing at Peacock nearly a year later in February 2022. Mackie was cast in the leading role of John Doe in September 2021, with his character described as "a smart ass, motor-mouthed Milkman who talks as fast as he drives" with "no memory of his family or past." When John Doe -- along with Quiet -- must embark on a perilous journey to deliver a mysterious package, all while surviving dangerous marauders and a deranged clown.
"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!" said NBCUniversal Television and Streaming President of Scripted Content Lisa Katz. "This adrenalin-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."
Twisted Metal will be executive produced by Kitao Sakurai (The Eric Andre Show, Bad Trip), who will also direct several episodes. Will Arnett and Marc Forman, who secured the rights to Twisted Metal, will also serve as executive producers. Michael Jonathan Smith will serve as showrunner, writer and executive producer as well. Twisted Metal debuted as a series of vehicular combat video games in 1995, with eight total installments and two spinoffs. The video games inspired a comic series from DC, as well as a feature film that was later canned by Sony in 2017.
In April, Mackie confirmed that he was gearing up to start production on the upcoming live-action series. "My new project Twisted Metal is gonna be on Peacock," the Captain America 4 star said. "I'm about to start shooting that. And if you remember the video game, it's just us driving cars and blowing stuff up and trying to make it to New San Francisco."
Peacock's live-action Twisted Metal series does not yet have a release date.
Source: Peacock