'Weird Antihero Energy': Twisted Metal Season 2 Stars Confirm How the Show Captures the Game's Dark Humor

Even individuals who by no means performed the Twisted Metal video games know the clown-masked character with the flaming head. In the video games, Candy Tooth is his car, however the title is related to the character in the Peacock collection now airing its second season. His right-hand man is the hapless Stu who appeared headed for sure loss of life in Season 1, however now could be one in all the event’s most formidable opponents. Maybe no different characters greatest exemplify the unusual dichotomy of Twisted Metal, as a result of they’re, in reality, horrible individuals who viewers can’t assist however love simply the identical.

On this unique interview with CBR, Joe Seanoa talks about how his skilled wrestling background ready him to play the bodily position of Candy Tooth. (Will Arnett voices the character in the present.) Mike Mitchell additionally shares the challenges and rewards of constructing a sweet-at-heart man like Stu match into the post-apocalyptic wasteland inTwisted Metal’s Divided States of America. The unlikely pair aren’t the heroes of the story — that’s Anthony Mackie’s John Doe and Stephanie Beatriz’s Quiet — however they’re important nonetheless. Candy Tooth and Stu are forces of nature that promise loss of life and destruction. Like Godzilla at any time when there’s one other kaiju round, or the T-Rex in choose Jurassic Park motion pictures, they are often aimed toward extra severe threats. It’s tough to think about Twisted Metal with out both of those characters, and fortunately audiences don’t need to.

CBR: Joe, Candy Tooth is, after all, a fan -avorite character. Plenty of individuals have excessive expectations round seeing him delivered to life. If that wasn’t sufficient of a problem, it’s a must to painting this character solely by your physicality. The enduring clown masks covers your face, and Will Arnett performs the voice. What’s that course of like?

Joe Seanoa: , loads of the course of is rooted in loads of professional wrestling abilities. Like I’ve stated elsewhere, I watched the nice Lucha Libre stars of previous emote by a masks. I carry up rather a lot this Japanese wrestler, Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger, who had this wonderful potential to emote by a masks that fully hid his face and most of his bodily options.

It is simply type of taking loads of cues from that and just a little from some [silent film greats like] Charlie Chaplin and a few previous pantomime and type of mixing all of it collectively in attempting to make Candy Tooth come to life in a giant means.

Mike, over the course of the collection, Stu has fairly the evolution and progress, particularly this season. How did you retain the character centered in who he’s at his core whereas balancing the twists and turns he takes in going from the place he started to the place he leads to the finale?

Mike Mitchell: For certain. I feel in Season 1, Candy Tooth is educating Stu that we all know he’ll be a bit extra of a lion than a lamb. And Stu does not have that in him, clearly, in the first season after which in Season 2, you see that he is bought to make these choices to outlive in the world, which is typically harsh. It is kill or be killed in the Divided States of America.

Candy Tooth is an expert in relation to killing, and Stu is simply studying from one in all the greatest he is aware of. And also you see it with Stu…nicely, I feel Stu is an effective individual, and he should not be on this world in any respect. I do not assume he would survive with out Candy Tooth, however Candy Tooth is educating him day after day simply learn how to [kill], learn how to do it, and ultimately, you recognize, Stu realizes that if he’ll stick round, if he’s going to outlive, he should do the identical factor.

Whereas Twisted Metal is a really severe present in relation to the stakes and what occurs, you each play characters who’re various levels of absurd and unsympathetic. Joe, what sort of problem do you are feeling when attempting to provide this homicidal clown real authenticity, whereas additionally doing it in such a means that makes viewers completely adore them? Audiences take care of Candy Tooth although he’s simply fully nuts.

Seanoa: I will say this. I feel loads of it has to do with understanding the world that [series creator and showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith] and the crew have inbuilt the present. , on this world, on this Divided States of America, on this post-apocalyptic wasteland, having 4 or 5 our bodies in your docket is predicted. It is the norm. It is not likely the exception to the rule. This is not a society that features all that nicely. That is one which’s collapsed. Generally the lesser evil is the man that kills with extra aptitude and magnificence than essentially the one which has the greatest physique depend.

So, to begin with, I feel that actuality lends to the absurdity of the collection, and what the video video games have been all about. I imply, the video games have been very darkish. They have been very intense, however all the opponents have been very tongue-in-cheek. And there was this type of air of this madcap madness that went on with the Twisted Metal event. I feel we do a very good job of reflecting that in our present, and it is that vitality. It is like taking part in the video games late at night time. , there may be this loopy bizarre antihero vitality. And I feel we undoubtedly rejoice that in the present.

Mike, in contrast to Joe, you get to make use of your face and your voice as a part of your actor’s toolbox, however Stu additionally veers into absurdity, and, in Season 2, he will get just a little darkish. Did you are concerned about him turning into much less sympathetic to viewers?

Mitchell: I watched the collection this weekend with my mother and sister. And there have been so many occasions my mother would yell, ‘Stu, no!” any time he did these issues. And you recognize, that is what makes it so enjoyable to observe. However with Stu, it is kind of that factor the place [the audience knows] the enemy of my enemy is my pal.

And Candy Tooth is the enemy of my enemy. And to outlive, we’re killing murderers and horrible individuals, and that is simply what you bought to do to outlive. So, there’s nothing fallacious with that. You possibly can nonetheless root for these guys in that means. In the event that they’re on the market killing [serial murderers, other killers] and doing issues like that, persons are going to simply type of root for us, which is what’s taking place [in Season 2].

Twisted Metal debuts new episodes Thursdays on Peacock.

Twisted Metal

Launch Date: July 27, 2023
Community: Peacock
Administrators: Jude Weng, Invoice Benz
Writers: Grant DeKernion, Francesca Gailes, Alyssa Forleiter, Shaun Diston, Becca Black, Alison Tafel
Franchise(s): Twisted Metal