Anthony Mackie, who is set to return to the high-octane vehicular combat world in the second season of Peacock’s Twisted Metal—a series adapted from Sony’s popular video game franchise—recently shared his candid observations on the state of the film industry. His role, particularly in the realm of game adaptations, offers him a unique perspective on Hollywood’s current challenges. Mackie contends that there is a discernible “shortage of fresh and new ideas” within Hollywood, a situation he believes compels many production companies to lean heavily on established intellectual properties (IPs) that boast pre-existing fan bases, thereby maximizing their potential for a strong return on investment.
During an interview with GameSpot conducted on the set of Twisted Metal prior to its second season debut, Mackie elaborated on his viewpoint:
“To be honest, I think there`s a shortage of fresh and new ideas [in Hollywood]. I think there`s so many people who are unwilling to go out on a limb and try something different and creative. So now it`s just like, `We need established IP.` So the IP part of it, I think, is a big sell.”
He further expounded on the risk-averse mindset prevalent in the entertainment business:
“You know, people in this business, we don`t want to see if something works. We want something with an already built-in audience. So if it doesn`t work, we can go to our boss and say, `Hey, it was justified,` so the Mouse [Disney] can`t fire you. So it`s kind of… it`s just what the business has turned into.”
This strategic pivot towards established IPs appears to be proving highly lucrative for numerous companies and their respective franchises. Notable examples include The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which achieved an impressive $1.3 billion globally in 2023, making it the second-highest-grossing film worldwide last year, and A Minecraft Movie, which has already surpassed $950 million this year. On the television front, HBO’s critically acclaimed adaptation of The Last of Us has garnered millions of viewers and recently secured an outstanding 16 Emmy nominations. Buoyed by these successes, a multitude of additional video game adaptations for both film and television are now actively in various stages of production.
Mackie, 46, is perhaps most widely recognized for his significant contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He initially brought the character of Sam Wilson / Falcon to life before taking on the iconic role of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year. His extensive career commenced with the 2002 film 8 Mile, and he has also earned acclaim for his performances in films such as The Hurt Locker and his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in All the Way.
Fans can anticipate Anthony Mackie`s return in Twisted Metal Season 2, which is scheduled to premiere on July 31 on Peacock.