Mark Hamill’s TWISTED METAL Role Might Be Even More Unhinged Than The Joker

Mark Hamill has built a career playing some wildly memorable characters. While most fans will always know him as Luke Skywalker from Star Wars, his resume stretches far beyond that galaxy.

From iconic voice work as the Joker to countless eccentric and unpredictable roles, Hamill has spent decades proving he can bring chaos and charisma to just about any character.

Now, it looks like Twisted Metal may be giving him one of his craziest parts yet. According to Deadline, Hamill has joined Season 3 of Peacock’s Twisted Metal as Pope Charlie Kane, the leader of the Eastern Sovereignty and the estranged father of Sweet Tooth.

Executive producer and star Anthony Mackie couldn't hide his excitement about bringing Hamill into the franchise, saying:

“For Mark Hamill to come into this world with us is amazing. He’s someone I’ve admired for a long time — a true legend who’s influenced generations of actors. Being able to now call him a castmate is an incredible honor, and we’re excited to see what he brings to the world of Twisted Metal.”

Fans were actually introduced to Charlie Kane in Season 2, but only in a very limited way. The character's full appearance was held back, creating plenty of mystery around who he really is.

In the original Twisted Metal games, Charlie Kane is known as the driver of the Yellow Jacket taxi cab. The TV adaptation takes that foundation and runs in a much stranger direction.

Instead of simply being another tournament competitor, he's been transformed into a powerful post-apocalyptic warlord and religious-style leader who controls what's left of New York.

The setup for his arrival was teased during the Season 2 finale's post-credits scene. Sweet Tooth finds himself chained behind a Yellow Jacket taxi and transported to meet Charlie. The moment he realizes where he's going, he quietly says, “Daddy?”

That reveal set the stage for what could become one of the show's most entertaining and dysfunctional relationships.

Peacock’s Twisted Metal has carved out its own identity by mixing outrageous vehicle combat, dark comedy, and plenty of brutal violence while expanding the mythology of the PlayStation video game franchise.

The story follows wisecracking courier John Doe, played by Mackie, as he travels across a post-apocalyptic America delivering a mysterious package.

Along the way, he encounters deadly gangs, dangerous road hazards, and the terrifying Sweet Tooth before eventually joining forces with car thief Quiet, played by Stephanie Beatriz.

Season 2 pushed the story beyond its road-trip origins by introducing the legendary Twisted Metal tournament. Hosted by the enigmatic Calypso, played by Anthony Carrigan, the demolition derby throws John, Quiet, and a collection of deadly drivers into a violent battle for survival. The season also reunited John with his long-lost sister, Dollface, adding another emotional layer to the madness.

While Peacock hasn't revealed specific story details for Season 3, the next chapter is expected to continue directly from the events of the Season 2 finale. John and Quiet are now on the run, aligned with a group of survivors, and determined to challenge Calypso's growing power.

Former showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith previously hinted that Pope Charlie Kane and the Eastern Sovereignty would play a significant role moving forward, and Hamill's casting certainly suggests that storyline is about to become a major focus.

With Hamill stepping into the role of a post-apocalyptic cult-like leader who also happens to be Sweet Tooth's father, Twisted Metal seems perfectly positioned to unleash another wonderfully deranged performance.

Considering the actor's long history of playing unforgettable villains and eccentric personalities, there's a very good chance Pope Charlie Kane ends up being one of the most entertaining characters the series has introduced yet.

Season 3 also welcomes David Reed (The Boys, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Magicians, Supernatural, and Battlestar Galactica) as the show's new showrunner and executive producer alongside Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.