Anthony Mackie's Heart-Racing Twisted Metal Stunts: Unleashing Mayhem at 50 MPH Around a Mall

Summary

Anthony Mackie reveals that most of the car stunts in Twisted Metal were done practically with stunt drivers.

Mackie personally took control of the car during a scene in which his character speeds through a mall at 50 MPH.

Producing the car-focused scenes with CGI would have restricted the series' appeal solely to video game enthusiasts, who are already acquainted with the utilization of computer-generated visuals.

Anthony Mackie, the star of Twisted Metal, shared the extensive use of practical driving effects in the creation of the series. The show, adapted from the popular video game series, debuted its entire 10-episode first season on Peacock on July 27. Mackie portrays John Doe, a milkman with amnesia, who embarks on a life-or-death mission in a post-apocalyptic world. The highly talented ensemble cast of the series includes Stephanie Beatriz, Samoa Joe, Will Arnett, Thomas Haden Church, and Neve Campbell.

In a recently published interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike, Anthony Mackie discussed his role in the Twisted Metal cast with Deadline. He expressed admiration for the team of stunt drivers, emphasizing that most of the driving scenes were accomplished using practical methods. Additionally, Mackie himself took the wheel for certain stunts, including driving at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour around a mall. Please read his complete statement below:

We had an exceptional group of drivers, which enabled us to accomplish many impressive feats. I had the exhilarating experience of driving at 50 miles per hour around a mall while being pursued. We even had the opportunity to jump out of the front window and engage in all sorts of daring stunts, all thanks to the immense talent of our drivers. And when it comes to the more monumental scenes, such as witnessing a car soaring over a bridge, it definitely wasn't Anthony behind the wheel.

Why Practical Stunts Are Important For Twisted Metal

In order to distinguish itself amidst a television landscape that has recently seen the success of HBO's The Last Of Us game adaptation, Twisted Metal relies on the importance of practical stunts. The ability to bring its story to life through tangible means is crucial to maintain its essence as a video game adaptation.

The car-based scenes in the series could have been CGI, but that would limit its appeal to gaming fans. The games already use computer-generated graphics for their worlds and car chases, so replicating this in a live-action series wouldn't provide a unique experience. Twisted Metal also needed to avoid negative comparisons to post-apocalyptic titles like Mad Max: Fury Road, which primarily used practical effects.

Adapting non-CG mediums like novels or comic books often benefits from CGI action scenes. These moments have not been visually depicted in a similar way before. However, with Twisted Metal, the series relies on verisimilitude to justify its existence.

Source: Deadline