Thomas Haden Church Unleashes Chaos in Twisted Metal's Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic World

Summary

In this riveting show, Thomas Haden Church masterfully portrays Agent Stone, a character who views himself as the epitome of righteousness, determined to restore order in a chaotic realm through ruthless means.

The series takes a fresh approach to the post-apocalyptic genre, with Michael Jonathan Smith as the showrunner and Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick as the original creators.

Drawing inspiration from the immensely popular PlayStation games, Twisted Metal follows the journey of John Doe, a charismatic outsider with no recollection of his past in a world destroyed by catastrophe. To secure a better life, John Doe must undertake the task of transporting a package through a vast wasteland left in the aftermath. As he encounters various obstacles along the way, completing this apparently straightforward mission becomes crucial for John Doe to have a shot at a future.

Developed by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, with Michael Jonathan Smith taking it to completion as showrunner, Twisted Metal features a talented cast including Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Neve Campbell, Samoa Joe (Joe Seanoa), Will Arnett, Richard Cabral, and Thomas Haden Church. The highly anticipated series will premiere all 10 episodes on Peacock on July 27.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Thomas Haden Church delved into his character, Agent Stone, in the new Twisted Metal series. He shared insights into Agent Stone's motivations and actions, and discussed his collaboration with Michael Jonathan Smith. Church also highlighted the unique aspects of Twisted Metal within the post-apocalyptic genre. It is important to note that this interview was conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, and the creation of the show would not have been possible without the contributions of WGA and SAG-AFTRA writers and actors.

Thomas Haden Church on Twisted Metal

Screen Rant: Thomas, I've been a fan of the Twisted Metal franchise since childhood. This show is incredibly entertaining with its thrilling and violent nature. Could you provide some insight into your character, Agent Stone, and his mission to restore order in the divided States of America?

Thomas Haden Church: Agent Stone sees himself as a staunch advocate for law and order. However, his vision for reunification is tainted by corruption and a misguided approach. In his pursuit, he aims to combat the rampant chaos, lawlessness, murder, drug abuse, and various acts of villainy.

Despite his murderous and savage nature, he firmly believes himself to be the ultimate hero rather than a villain. Interestingly, discussions surrounding Stone often label him as the antagonist. While other characters also exhibit villainous tendencies, Sweet Tooth, too, desires to restore what he perceives as societal normalcy. Stone manages to gather supporters for his endeavors.

All characters share a common goal of returning to the past, but the existence of fortified cities raises questions about the nature of their civilization. These cities operate under their own unique laws, rules, and policies, making it unclear if they truly provide a safe refuge. Quiet and John quickly realize that their perception of harmony is, in reality, far from true.

This series explores the world of Twisted Metal in a completely fresh and innovative way. Could you share your experience of collaborating with the incredibly talented writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, as well as Michael Jonathan Smith, in developing the characters and expanding this world?

Thomas Haden Church: While I personally did not have the opportunity to directly work with Paul and Rhett, I had crossed paths with them on a previous project some time ago. However, during my research, I quickly discovered that they were the original masterminds behind bringing this world to life on screen. Nevertheless, it was actually Michael Jonathan Smith who took the reins and further developed it. However, it truly takes a collective effort, with the involvement of Will Arnett, his producing partner, as well as the executives from Sony and the creators of Twisted Metal for PlayStation.

Michael, our main guy and showrunner, initially wrote the first three scripts and then oversaw the rest. I believe he and his partner may have written the very last script, although it's been a year since we shot it, so I can't be certain. Reading those first three scripts and having numerous conversations with Michael allowed me to delve into and understand the world of the story. Even though I'm not directly connected to the gaming world, through discussions with people younger than me, I discovered their love for Twisted Metal, a game they played in the '90s when they were in middle school. The world of Twisted Metal intrigued me because of its unique take on post-apocalyptic storytelling, unlike anything I had seen before.

About Twisted Metal

Here are our other interviews for Twisted Metal:

Anthony Mackie

Stephanie Beatriz

Samoa Joe (aka Joe Seanoa)

Twisted Metal debuts on Peacock on July 27.

Source: Screen Rant Plus