Naturally, a TV series that’s based on the action car game Twisted Metal was always going to entail more than a few death-defying stunts.
However, rather than opting for a stunt double for all the risky moves, Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Quiet in the PlayStation spinoff, said that she and her co-star Anthony Mackie actually did a lot of their own stunts.
During an interview with Chattr, Beatriz said that after giving birth in August last year she felt like stunts would be a “piece of cake” in comparison.
Note: This interview was pre-taped in June prior to the SAG strike.
“I wanted to do action so badly. I got a tiny taste of that on Brooklyn Nine-Nine but I really scratched that itch on this show. It was so fun to learn from these incredible people like our stunt choreographers and our stunt doubles,” she said.
“The fights really come across on screen and they look like they’re really happening. We got to do a lot of that [the stunts] because we were given the opportunity and the trust to do it and Anthony did almost all of his stunts,” she added.
Beatriz revealed that she and Mackie weren’t able to do every stunt, but said she enjoyed being involved in the ones that she could.
“There’s obviously there are some things that are way too dangerous for either one of us to do but I think it’s really fun in the series when you can see our faces in the shots. And, as an audience member to know that’s the actor that’s really doing it. It was truly a pleasure to do.”
What was it like working with Anthony Mackie?
Captain America actor Mackie takes on the lead role of John Doe in Twisted Metal, and Beatriz said she “learned a lot” from him when watching him film scenes.
“The best thing about working with Anthony is he’s extremely, extremely dedicated to his craft. He is a consummate professional. He’s always ready to try anything,” she said.
“He is probably one of the most talented actors I’ve ever witnessed work because he just is so adaptable, and adept. He’s quick on his feet. He’s funny, he’s smart. He’s willing to look like an idiot, which I think is important, he’s gotta be willing to look like a dumbass!” She laughed.
Beatriz added that Mackie’s skills went much further than just being talented at reading lines.
“He’s incredibly gifted, but it’s also a practice. He’s great at stunts. He’s a really great driver. He’s phenomenal at learning fight choreography and executing it in a very time-pressured situation.”
What is Twisted Metal about?
The show is loosely based on the PlayStation game Twisted Metal which was popular back in the nineties and early noughties.
The series comes from the brilliant minds of Rhett Reese (known for DeadPool) and Paul Wernick (famous for Zombieland) and is an action-packed comedy that follows the adventure of a fast-talking outsider named John Doe.
John Doe is given a chance at a better life, but there’s a catch – he has to safely deliver a mysterious package through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of an awesome car thief named Quiet, they will navigate savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers.
Of course, the iconic crazy clown and his all-too-familiar ice cream truck from the game will be popping up in the series.
You can stream Twisted Metal from July 27 on Stan.
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