Anthony Mackie returns to the world of vehicle combat in Season 2 of Twisted Metal, the streaming series adaptation of Sony’s video game franchise, premiering this week on Peacock. His role as John Doe might give him a unique perspective on game adaptations: He said there is a “shortage” of new ideas in Hollywood. which is why some companies are leveraging established intellectual property with built-in audiences for the best chance at getting a return on investment.

“To be honest, I think there’s a shortage of fresh and new ideas [in Hollywood],” Mackie told GameSpot during a trip to Twisted Metal’s set ahead of Season 2. “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.

“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.”

That model seems to be working, at least for some companies and franchises. The Super Mario Bros. Movie made $1.3 billion and was the No. 2 movie globally in 2023, while A Minecraft Movie made more than $950 million this year. On TV, HBO’s The Last of Us has earned rave reviews and attracted millions of viewers. The show just picked up 16 more Emmy nominations. Dozens more video game adaptations for film and TV are now in various stages of production.

Mackie, 46, is perhaps best known in Hollywood for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began with his portrayal of Sam Wilson / Falcon before taking on the role of Captain America in Captain America: Brave New World earlier this year. He got his start with 2002’s 8 Mile and is also known for his roles in The Hurt Locker and for playing MLK Jr. in All the Way.

Twisted Metal Season 2 premieres July 31 on Peacock.

Sony Pictures Television paid for GameSpot’s flight and accommodation to Toronto to see the Twisted Metal Season 2 set and speak with the cast and crew.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com