We learned back in February that Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions were moving forward with a live-action adaptation of the Twisted Metal vehicular combat games, and the show has now found its lead.
Variety reports that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier star Anthony Mackie will play John Doe, 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, whom fans of the game will know as Sweet Tooth."
The series, which is described as an action comedy, is based on an idea by Deadpool writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who will also executive produce. Michael Jonathan Smith will write and executive produce along with Will Arnett and Marc Forman through their Electric Avenue production company. There's some talk of Arnett playing Sweet Tooth, but nothing too solid just yet.
“We love Twisted Metal in all its twisted insanity,” said executive vice president of comedy development for Sony Pictures Television Glenn Adilman when the project was first announced. “Michael Jonathan Smith hit it out of the park with an action-packed, brilliantly funny adaptation and we are grateful for the support of Rhett, Paul, Will and our friends at PlayStation.”
It was recently confirmed that Mackie's Sam Wilson will return for Captain America 4, but we haven't had a filming update in a while, so there's a chance Twisted Metal will enter production first.