Convention - SDCC 2025 : Twisted Metal Season 2 Hits Full Throttle – Press Roundtable Reveals Explosive New Stakes

By Mulder, San Diego, 23 july 2025

San Diego Comic-Con 2025 was barely underway when the thunder of engines and twisted steel echoed through our screens during an electrifying international press roundtable centered on Twisted Metal Season 2. Held virtually in San Diego on July 23rd, this intimate 13-minute session brought together six journalists from various outlets, each of us given the chance to interact directly with the dynamic duo at the heart of the series: Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz. Despite the limited time, the roundtable pulsed with enthusiasm, humor, and sharp insight, reflecting the undeniable chemistry between these two leads. One of the standout moments came when I asked about the importance of promoting the series directly to fans—through events like Comic-Con panels and immersive activations—and both Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz lit up with conviction. Their passion for the project was palpable, emphasizing that fan engagement is not just marketing—it’s about reciprocating the loyalty of an audience that has embraced Twisted Metal's unapologetic chaos.

The highly anticipated Season 2 trailer, freshly revealed by Peacock, confirms what fans have hoped for since the explosive Season 1 finale: Twisted Metal is shifting into overdrive. Returning once again as John Doe, Anthony Mackie leads the series into the heart of the brutal, fan-favorite Twisted Metal tournament—a spectacle where destruction reigns and survival is the only reward. Accompanied by the enigmatic Quiet, portrayed with fierce grit by Stephanie Beatriz, John finds himself battling through sixteen other volatile competitors, each one more insane than the last. A major emotional twist? The surprise return of his long-lost sister, Dollface, played by Tiana Okoye, whose mysterious vigilante persona adds a layer of emotional complexity to the bone-crunching warfare. From the towering wheels of Axel to the junkyard menace of Vermin and Junkyard Dog, and of course the sadistic laugh of Sweet Tooth—brought to life again by Joe Seanoa and voiced by Will Arnett—Season 2 isn’t holding anything back.

The creative momentum behind the scenes is just as wild and unwavering. Showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith, known for injecting heart into high-octane narratives with Cobra Kai, has doubled down on the franchise’s iconic blend of absurdity, ultraviolence, and unexpected pathos. “Not everyone’s making it out alive,” Michael Jonathan Smith teases, leaning into the tournament structure with a confidence that mirrors the reckless abandon of the source material. Meanwhile, producers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the minds behind Deadpool, remain at the helm alongside a massive ensemble of executive producers that includes Anthony Mackie himself, Will Arnett, Marc Forman, Jason Spire, Grant Dekernion, Peter Principato, Asad Qizilbash, and Carter Swan. The result is a collaborative explosion of creative energy across production houses like PlayStation Productions, Sony Pictures Television, and Universal Television.

Season 2 of Twisted Metal doesn’t just ramp up the destruction—it reshapes the narrative stakes. Season 1 spent much of its runtime world-building, establishing a fractured America where fortified cities protect the privileged, while the rest are left to fend for themselves in a landscape of desolation and lawlessness. Anthony Mackie’s John Doe emerged as a charismatic courier, navigating this wasteland with equal parts bravado and battered optimism. But now, as he and Quiet willingly enter the infamous Twisted Metal tournament, the scope narrows into something more brutal, personal, and character-driven. Stephanie Beatriz, who has long since shed her Brooklyn Nine-Nine persona, brings a haunted toughness to Quiet, a character whose silence conceals a traumatic past and burning motivation. Their bond, tested in Season 1, now faces a crucible of violence and betrayal.

Beyond the mayhem, what makes Twisted Metal a surprising standout in the streaming landscape is its beating heart. The stylized action, gory kills, and vehicular carnage are certainly its calling cards, but embedded within the madness is a story of identity, survival, and connection. At SDCC 2025, Anthony Mackie shared how much he personally connects with John Doe’s search for purpose and belonging, especially when family—lost and rediscovered—becomes the emotional catalyst for everything else. In that same vein, Stephanie Beatriz spoke candidly about the show's unique tone, one that allows moments of absurdity to coexist with real stakes. Their genuine enthusiasm during the roundtable wasn’t rehearsed—it was the energy of actors who believe in the story they’re telling and the way it resonates with an audience eager for something bold, different, and authentically weird.

The cast of Twisted Metal Season 2 expands with fresh talent, including Lisa Gilroy, Richard de Klerk, Patty Guggenheim, Saylor Bell Curda, and Michael James Shaw, all set to add new flavors to this already volatile recipe. Cinematographer James McMillan returns to ensure the visual style remains gritty, dynamic, and as chaotic as a demolition derby in hell. Meanwhile, composers Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (also known for their work on Cobra Kai) continue to blend retro-futuristic synths and percussive battle scores to perfectly match the show’s tone. Editors Michael Giambra, Heather Capps, and Travis Sittard are back to orchestrate the madness into a pulse-pounding, binge-worthy rhythm.

Since its debut in July 2023, Twisted Metal has done more than revive a nostalgic video game franchise—it’s become a cultural conduit for fans of anarchic storytelling, genre pastiche, and explosive entertainment. While PlayStation has yet to confirm any new game in the series, this show has stepped up as the primary ambassador of the brand. With Season 2 shifting into tournament mode and pushing both spectacle and emotion to new heights, Twisted Metal feels more than ever like a show not just for gamers, but for anyone who’s ever wanted to see what happens when you mix Mad Max, Saturday morning cartoons, and raw human emotion in a blender. Summer 2025 can’t come soon enough.

Synopsis :
In a post-apocalyptic world, American society is divided between the haves and the have-nots. The former live in fortified cities, isolated from the latter, who are condemned to fend for themselves and survive as best they can. John Doe, a marginal, manages to get by by working as a transporter. He is fearless, has a big mouth and is a good driver. With the help of a mute car thief, he embarks on a journey across the country to deliver a mysterious package. On their way, this unlikely duo will face sinister looters, law enforcement officers of dubious morality, a sociopathic clown and many other deadly dangers.

Twisted Metal
Based on Twisted Metal by Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developed by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and, Michael Jonathan Smith
Showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith
Starring Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Joe Seanoa, Will Arnett, Thomas Haden Church
Music by Leo Birenberg, Zach Robinson
Executive producers : Michael Jonathan Smith, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, Anthony Mackie, Will Arnett, Marc Forman, Jason Spire, Kitao Sakurai, Peter Principato, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Hermen Hulst
Cinematography : James McMillan
Editors : Michael Giambra, Heather Capps, Travis Sittard
Production companies : Wicked Deed, Reese Wernick Productionsn Make It with Gravyn, Inspire Entertainment, Electric Avenue, Artists First, PlayStation Productions, Universal Television, Sony Pictures Television Studios
Network : Peacock
Release July 27, 2023 –Present
Running time : 23–32 minutes