The wait for the live-action debut of fan-favorite character Axel is officially over, as the first trailer for Twisted Metal Season 2 confirms his arrival in the Peacock series ahead of the July 31 premiere.
The Chaos of Calypso’s Tournament
In the new trailer, the sadistic ringleader Calypso, played by Anthony Carrigan, welcomes a fresh roster of characters to the brutal Twisted Metal tournament, where the ultimate prize is the fulfillment of any wish. Once the stakes are set, the action escalates rapidly. Viewers get a glimpse of Sweet Tooth firing off missiles, John (Anthony Mackie) narrowly avoiding lightning strikes, and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) delivering a lethal, high-stakes combat sequence. However, the true highlight of the footage is the first look at the mechanical powerhouse, Axel.
Engineering the Impossible: Bringing Axel to Life
Showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith previously admitted that Axel’s absence in the first season was due to the logistical nightmare of adapting a character who is physically fused between two massive wheels. To overcome this, the production team constructed a custom, heavy-duty apparatus that required its own dedicated transport trailer.
The results of this practical engineering are visible in the trailer. Actor Michael James Shaw is seen embodying the character with a menacing intensity, strapped into the mechanical rig that binds his limbs to the enormous wheels. While visual effects were utilized to assist in the character’s movement alongside other vehicles, the production team clearly prioritized a grounded, tactile aesthetic for the character.
A New Titan Joins the Fray
The inclusion of Axel marks a significant escalation in the series’ commitment to the source material. By successfully translating one of the franchise’s most iconic and difficult-to-adapt designs into live-action, the production team has set a high bar for the upcoming season. Fans can see the full debut of the “War Wheel” titan when Twisted Metal returns to Peacock on July 31.
