Video game adaptations have always been a gamble, and for a very long time they proved to be a losing gamble. Some of them failed because they strayed too far from the source material, rendering iconic characters and locations unrecognizable to fans (see also: the live-action Super Mario Bros. movie). Others failed because, as it turns out, first-person shooters might not have the narrative fortitude to prop up a feature film (see also: Doom). Still others failed because they were cheaply-produced, poorly-written, sloppily-directed or some combination of the three (see also: too many instances to count).
But lately we’ve seen the industry taking steps towards legitimacy in the video game genre. Josh Ruben’s wildly entertaining horror comedy Werewolves Within (2021) is frequently cited as one of the best game adaptations of all time, if not the best, and HBO’s recent adaptation of The Last of Us satisfied fans while delivering massive ratings for the network. When approached with the right creative vision, the right budget and with genuinely cinematic source material, these things can be good!
Will Peacock’s Twisted Metal be the next great video game adaptation?
This is the official, NSFW trailer for Peacock’s Twisted Metal series (yes, series, not movie). Starring Anthony Mackie, Thomas Haden Church (!!!), Neve Campbell, Stephanie Beatriz, and AEW’s Samoa Joe as the iconic Sweet Tooth (that’s Will Arnett providing the voice, for the record), the Twisted Metal series certainly has no shortage of talent in front of the camera. Behind the camera? You’ve got Zombieland and Deadpool masterminds Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick as the series creators, with Cobrai Kai‘s Michael Jonathan Smith onboard to write and show-run the series. Bottom line? Twisted Metal certainly has the makings for something great … but of course we’ll have to wait and see it for ourselves once it arrives.
And when will that be? Not too long from now! Twisted Metal hits Peacock on July 27th. Fingers crossed that it delivers on all the goofy mayhem promised in the trailer above.
Stay tuned for more on Peacock’s Twisted Metal series as further updates roll in.
