Twisted Metal’s live-action adaptation returns for season two at the end of this month, and everything we’ve been shown so far suggests the show is really going to start leaning into the series' very over-the-top themes. That includes one of its weirdest character designs, Axel, who we’ve finally been shown in all his live-action glory via what will likely be season two’s final trailer.
For the uninitiated, Axel has been a staple in the Twisted Metal games since Twisted Metal 2. Unlike most of the other characters, Axel isn’t in a car; heisthe car. Just a guy with his arms and legs locked into a couple of giant wheels. That’s it, sowhen his live-action debut was teased earlier this year, fans of the series wondered how on earth that unorthodox design could possibly be created in a TV show where Axel needs to be portrayed by a real person.
Twisted Metal Axel looks like everything we wanted him to be
A whole new generation is about to be introduced to one of the wildest vehicle designs in video game history
After the initial tease,we were shown the TV version of Axel for the first time via a follow-up trailer. However, it wasn’t until today’s trailer, which you can check out below, that we were shown how exactly this is all going to work. After giving us a couple more very quick glimpses of Axel in action, and then the man himself without his wheels confronting Anthony Mackie, we finally get a proper look at the character, rolling around and confronting actual vehicles you’d assume he doesn’t stand a chance against.
Thankfully, as is the case in the games, Axel doesn’t spin around and around while racing against, and trying to blow up, his rivals. He is attached to the wheels via a waist harness, which means he remains upright and in place so he can focus on what’s going on around him. Still not exactly the best design for a competition where people are using tricked-out vehicles to kill each other, but at least he’s not dizzy, I guess.
Like Sweet Tooth, the iconic Twisted Metal clown who is played by Samoa Joe but voiced by Will Arnett, Axel and his car share the same name. That makes a lot more sense for Axel, as he is the car. In fact, even calling it a car might be a stretch. If you want to see more of live-action Axel and how he fares on his quest to defeat the rest of the pack and win Calypso’s wish,you can watch Twisted Metal season two exclusively on Paramount Plus when it starts streaming on May 14, 2025.
