Blame it on my love for PlayStation titles or just how much solid content continues to come from Peacock these days - but my goodness, if the new ‘Twisted Metal’ explicit trailer doesn’t look insanely awesome. Spoiler? This might not be your Date Night-approved must-see because with the action, cursing and insanely twisted humor, it might just be the type of show you watch with gang-gang or even enjoy with yourself.

Solid cast. Solid visuals. Solid nostalgia. Peep the details and lock in July 27 for this must-see Peacock Original premiering.

The year was 2001. Weezer had welcomed fans to an Island in the Sun. Shrek was an all-star at the box office. Pizza Hut had delivered a salami pizza to the International Space Station. And I was a sixteen year old nerd who had just purchased Twisted Metal: Black. The second I inserted that disc into my PlayStation 2, I was transported to a chaotic demolition derby that left me cackling with glee at the chaos of it all. That inescapable feeling of joy is what I wanted to bring to life in our show. 

Yes, TWISTED METAL has the cars, it has the weapons, and it has the battles. But what it also has are people. I know you will fall in love with these characters and what drives them, no pun intended (okay, maybe a little intended). You will cheer for our charismatic hero John Doe, played by Anthony Mackie, as he drives across the Divided States of America in search of a place to belong. You’ll laugh as an enigmatic woman named Quiet, played by Stephanie Beatriz, throws John’s world for a loop after a chance encounter, forcing the two together and changing both their lives for the better. 

You will root for our heroes to take down psychotic highway patrolman Agent Stone, played by Thomas Haden Church, who sees the world in black and blue. And you’ll discover a surprising soulfulness to our deranged, murderous clown Sweet Tooth, voiced by Will Arnett and performed by Joe Seanoa aka wrestler Samoa Joe. 

This is a bonkers show about insiders and outsiders, and how our own special apocalypse has divided and isolated us more than ever. But there’s hope. You can find your people and your community. You may just have to get past a terrifying clown driving a well-armed ice cream truck to find them. 

Buckle up. 

Thanks, 

Michael Jonathan Smith