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CNET
10 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
I Spoke With the 'Twisted Metal' Cast and Creator About Season 2. Here's Everything to Know
Twisted Metal -- Peacock's original series inspired by the popular video games of the same name -- broke viewership records for the NBC Universal-owned streamer when it debuted on the platform in 2023. Of all shows people could have binged, they picked the one with an ice cream truck-driving killer clown who loved to set his head on fire. It's like everyone suddenly had my particular taste in entertainment. I'm not mad about it. Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz lead the series as John Doe and Quiet, two unlikely partners striving to survive in America's dystopian maw. The tag team duo of Samoa Joe and Will Arnett (who provides the voice) brings Sweet Tooth, the aforementioned evil clown, to life. I've seen footage from season 2 (which will premiere its first three episodes on July 31), and I'm beyond stoked to tell you that everything is revved up: Explosive action, gory kill sequences and emotional stakes. And yes, there's car-crunching carnage aplenty. I spoke with the cast and creator of the series over Zoom during the show's press day to get insight into these new episodes. So, without further ado, here's everything you need to know about Twisted Metal season 2. Mike Mitchell and Samoa Joe return as Stu and Sweet Tooth in season 2 of Twisted Metal on Peacock. Peacock That long-awaited car tournament is coming Twisted Metal is finally going to fulfill the prophecy of its name. We're getting that demolition derby in season 2. In fact, it's one of the driving forces that fuels the overall storyline. The tournament is hosted by a mysterious man named Calypso, played by Anthony Carrigan, who announces that the winner will be granted a wish, no matter how big. In a world divided by the less fortunate outsiders, who live in squalor outside the walled-in cities, and the privileged insiders, this prize draws out an assortment of competitors. Of the characters joining the race, fan excitement has been on overload regarding the inclusion of Axel, the driver whose arms are connected to two giant wheels. Yet, no one really knew who would play him. Even Mike Mitchell (who returns as Stu) and Samoa Joe revealed they texted at length about this mystery. The season 2 trailer answered that question. Michael James Shaw (who you may recognize as Papa Midnite in Constantine or Mercer in The Walking Dead) is the man bringing Axel to life. He has the physicality for the role, which is important considering he had to physically step into a giant rig and really move around the set in it. "That rig, it's massive," he said. "It probably weighs about 4 or 5 tons. Like, it's big; it's sturdy. Getting in, I was like, 'Oh, wow, I have to support myself here.' It's like I'm surfing. So it's just cool to acclimate to that and then find freedom in that, and find power in that framework. I think you get that one piece of clothing or costume, and it all kind of clicks. In stepping into the rig and feeling that, it all made sense from that moment on." Peacock Family is a big theme this season One of the interesting details about John Doe is that he has no memory of his childhood. He doesn't know his real name, he doesn't remember his parents and has no real information to connect to his true identity. Season 2 digs into these themes by reuniting John with his long-lost sister, Dollface. According to Mackie, this reunion "exemplifies everything for John." "He has so many questions and there's so much he doesn't know," he continued. "He finally has the person who can fill all those empty blanks for him. Ever since we've met John, there's always been this desire, this need for connection, to find home. He's now in a position where he's found his sister. That's the closest thing to home he'll ever have. So that connection is very important." Peacock What about Quiet? Up until now, she was basically the only sort of family he had forged. In the season 1 finale, she was captured by a gang of masked marauders called the Dolls. In season 2, we find that John's love interest is still rolling with them. And, plot twist, the group's leader is none other than John's sister. Is Quiet's involvement with the Dolls purely survival-based, or is there more to it? "She's kind of managed to eke a little community out of these women," Beatriz told me. "She has a ton of respect for Dollface, but she also, I think, ultimately wants what she wants. And when she hears that the tournament is announced by Calypso and that whoever wins this tournament is going to get their greatest wish, I think everything else falls away, and that wish becomes the new target, and that's what she's after." As twisted as things get, the story remains relatable Twisted Metal is a show that goes hard in the paint when it comes to unhinged humor and bloody kill sequences. The new episodes take things further into genre territory with the introduction of Mr. Grimm, a man who carries the souls of his victims inside his body. I asked showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith to make it all make sense. How can a show like this work when, in season 2, you suddenly introduce a supernatural element previously unseen that may feel out of left field for those unfamiliar with video games? "What's great about our show is that the further you watch, the you learn more about why that character is stuck between those wheels, and the more you learn, the more you see that he is a man who is torn between his human side and his machine side. Grimm is a crazy man who houses a thousand souls in him like an apartment building." At the end of the day, though, these are humans. And as crazy as things get, Smith's guiding light with the series has been to let their humanity shine. "These are people who have personalities," he continued. "They have wants, have drives -- to use the pun -- and have needs, and that's what makes our show so special. It has heart." Twisted Metal season 2 will debut its first three episodes on Thursday, July 31, exclusively on Peacock.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Former AEW Champion Taking Leave Of Absence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. AEW Trios Champion Samoa Joe is set to miss some time from television following a brutal post-match attack at the All In: Texas pay-per-view. According to a new report, the on-screen angle was a deliberate way to write the champion off of television for a few weeks for a very specific reason. At the All In event this past Saturday, Joe's team, The Opps, successfully retained their Trios Titles over the Death Riders. However, their celebration was cut short by a beatdown that saw Joe being stretchered out of the arena. The Real Reason For Samoe Joe's AEW Absence A new report from Fightful Select has confirmed the reason for the storyline injury. Samoa Joe is scheduled to take time off to handle promotional duties for the upcoming second season of the hit Peacock series, Twisted Metal. The report notes that Joe is expected to miss "at least a couple of weeks" of AEW programming. The new season of Twisted Metal is set to be released on July 31st. The Samoan Submission Machine In Hollywood Twisted Metal is a successful adaptation of the classic PlayStation video game series. In the show, Samoa Joe provides the imposing physical body for the iconic, clown-mask-wearing character, Sweet Tooth. Actor Will Arnett provides the character's voice. All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023. All Elite Wrestling ALL IN at Wembley Stadium in London on August 27, 2023. Courtesy of AEW The first season was a critical and commercial success for the Peacock streaming service. Joe's involvement in promoting the highly anticipated second season is a major mainstream opportunity for both him and AEW. A Growing Trend In Wrestling It is becoming increasingly common for top professional wrestlers to take scheduled time away from the ring to work on major film and television projects. This allows them to expand their brand and bring new eyes to the wrestling product. In recent months, WWE's The Miz took a hiatus to host the reboot of American Gladiators, while WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch was recently cast in a new FX comedy pilot. More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation Samoa Joe's absence for his own high-profile project follows this new industry trend. His journey in AEW has seen him hold the TNT Championship twice before reaching the pinnacle of the company by winning the AEW World Championship. While he is currently a Trios Champion, he remains one of AEW's most credible and important main event stars. Fans can expect him to return to AEW programming after his promotional duties for Twisted Metal are complete. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Update On Why Wardlow Has Not Returned To AEW TV
Wardlow has been missing from AEW television, and it appears it's for a few reasons. AEW star Wardlow has not been on television for over a year. His last match was a world title match against Samoa Joe on the 'Big Business' episode of Dynamite in March 2024. According to Fightful (via Fightful Select), Wardlow suffered what was believed to be a torn labrum injury sometime in the spring of 2024. Advertisement He was later involved in a car accident, which he wrote about in April 2024. Fightful stressed that the accident did not cause the injury, but made it worse. During an appearance on the Stick to Wrestling Podcast, Matt Taven said Wardlow had been dealing with a 'knee injury.' However, Fightful's report did not mention any other injuries besides the initial one. Wardlow also landed a significant acting role In addition, Wardlow landed what was described as a 'very appropriate and special' television role earlier this year. In March, it was reported that the former TNT Champion was backstage at AEW Revolution. Despite that, he was not planned on being used due to recovering from the injury and working on outside projects. He is cleared to compete now, but he met with Tony Khan, and both sides agreed that bringing him back to TV didn't make sense yet since he'd have to leave again for the TV role. Advertisement Wardlow has a 'significant amount of time' left on his AEW contract and is expected to be with AEW for a long time. 'Mr. Mayhem' has been with AEW since 2019 and had a lengthy run as MJF's bodyguard. After turning on MJF, he then won the TNT Championship three times, with the last reign coming in 2023. Wardlow later joined the Undisputed Kingdom, and he was with the group until his AEW hiatus began. The post Update On Why Wardlow Has Not Returned To AEW TV appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
All Star Trios Match Added To AEW Dynamite, Updated Card
A huge trios match has been added to AEW Dynamite just days before Double or Nothing. Ahead of Anarchy in the Arena this weekend, teams will go to war this Wednesday in an All Star Trios matchup. All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan took to social media to announce the match this evening, tweeting out: Advertisement 'This Wednesday, 5/21 #AEWDynamite 8pm ET/7pm CT, TBS + Max World Champion @JonMoxley + @youngbucks vs @swerveconfident + World Trios Champions @SamoaJoe + @TrueWillieHobbs After Death Riders injured The Opps' Shibata, Swerve joins Hobbs/Samoa Joe vs Young Bucks + Mox WEDNESDAY,' Tony Khan said in a post. The updated card for the May 21 episode of AEW Dynamite is as follows: All Star Trios Match: Jon Moxley and the Young Bucks vs. Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Swerve Strickland Mina Shirakawa vs. Julia Hart Will Ospreay and Hangman Page go face-to-face MJF signs his contract to join The Hurt Syndicate Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter go face-to-face WrestleZone has live coverage of AEW Dynamite every Wednesday evening. READ MORE: Darby Allin Comments On Reaching Summit Of Mount Everest What do you make of this All Star Trios match? Who do you think will win? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. The post All Star Trios Match Added To AEW Dynamite, Updated Card appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'They all wanna wrestle me': Samoa Joe relishes the chance to become AEW's ‘standard-bearer' yet again
Samoa Joe carries a certain aura about himself. The look, the towel, the nonchalant coolness is something that feels like it's always been there. He's a guy who makes everything he does in the ring look easy. The foundational elements of his music that have carried across different companies and Joe's connection to the audience make him a unique talent in the professional wrestling landscape. More than 25 years into his career, Joe's just happy people still find joy in what he brings to table. Advertisement 'I'm just stoked that we're still vibing together and it's still a fun experience for everyone,' Joe tells Uncrowned. The presentation of Joe, 46, and his established persona makes him a character that's easy to get invested in no matter where he is on the card. On Wednesday night at "AEW Dynamite," he'll have a chance to reach the top of the mountain yet again in an AEW World Championship match against Jon Moxley. 'It's a wonderful thing, man. Any opportunity to be the standard-bearer for the company is one that any professional in my current capacity would relish,' Joe says. 'I've had a lot of opportunities to fill a lot of different roles throughout the company. To find myself in the main event title mix is no surprise. It never is anywhere I go. But it's always reaffirming to see that we're still vying for gold no matter where we are.' Advertisement Joe's opportunity to become the face of AEW comes at a time when Moxley's title reign is one of the more hotly debated stories in professional wrestling. It's been more than seven months since Moxley ended Bryan Danielson's full-time in-ring career, and his run with the Death Riders has created a polarizing presence around the promotion's featured title. Joe says this is the type of environment he thrives in. He wants people to have a 'visceral hate or dislike,' rather than all fans thinking 'everybody's great, and I love both guys.' 'I think a lot of people these days shy away from that,' Joe continues. Advertisement 'We as performers maybe get a little bit too in our heads about other people's opinions and thinking that everything that's spoken against you is somehow some great attack. In reality, we are purveyors of what we do. And if people don't like what you make, you just have to deal with that. Not everybody likes apple pie.' Whether good or bad, strong reactions like what the Death Riders saga continues to elicit often make it easier to tell a story when fans are already so invested. It just depends on the athlete. 'For some people, it's crippling. For other people, it's a joy and you look at it like a fat, juicy steak. You got the grill fired up and ready to go. That's my approach to it. And it's been my approach all along to stuff like that,' Joe says. 'Controversy creates cash and I'd rather have you feel some kind of way than no way at all.' Samoa Joe has seen and done it all throughout his decades-long run. (Rob Tringali/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Rob Tringali via Getty Images) Another chance at holding the world title is meaningful, and Joe prefers to live in the moment. He's intentional in not thinking too much about his legacy or discussing the impact his matches have had on the next generation. Advertisement 'I think it's a death for a lot of artists in general, a lot of wrestlers, a lot of whatever professional acumen you may have. I think when you start sniffing your own farts, you're going to have a tendency to start producing s***. And that's never been my intent,' Joe says. 'Maybe a lot of people do, and I don't fault them for that. I feel that you should feel pride and accomplishment and enjoy things that you do, and I would never fault anybody for feeling that or for speaking on their legacy.' If anyone could speak on their legacy, it's Joe. He's one of the few stars who has experienced the various stages and media models that came with his time in Ring of Honor, TNA, WWE and now AEW. He has matches that stand among the greatest ever — specifically his 2005 TNA triple-threat tilt with AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels is an all-timer. He has created moments in the ring that are mimicked by others and shamelessly sends reaction gifs of himself in family group chats. Joe's focus isn't on any of that, though. It's on the impact he's made on each fan, each show and each opportunity. Advertisement 'The satisfaction comes with knowing that the audience that we've been gracious enough to have come and paid their ticket has had a good time and the audience at home has felt that their time was well spent, and that really for me is where it lies,' Joe says. 'That's why I got into this. This is what the job description was. This is what I do and I love what I do." Joe has faced his fair share of setbacks along the way. At the top of his game, he missed more than a year after suffering back-to-back concussions in 2020 that nearly ended his in-ring career. Following a year behind the commentary desk, his decision to keep going and come back to the ring for more was an easy one. 'It's not hard to stay motivated when you enjoy what you do,' Joe says. Advertisement Joe's return to the ring was rewarded with a 113-day reign atop AEW in 2023, one that he casually refers to as a 'fun championship run.' With no slowing down and his eyes set on being the face of AEW ahead of him, Joe is ready for any and all challengers. 'The reality is it's every single one of 'em, they all wanna wrestle me — from Brody King to [Will] Ospreay. You ask anybody in that locker room, they wanna have that match,' Joe says. 'At this point, too, I wanna see how my style matches with them. Traditionally throughout my career, I've had the fortunate circumstance to work with people from a lot of different disciplines, a lot of different styles of wrestling, and there's many more newer talents that do things maybe a little bit differently that I'd love to see how we gel.'
