Twisted Metal fans are not happy about the latest Season 3 casting update.

Based on the Sony Interactive Entertainment video game franchise, Twisted Metal is a Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions TV show that premiered on Peacock in July 2023. The series — which is developed by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Michael Jonathan — stars Anthony Mackie as John Doe, Stephanie Beatriz as Quiet, Joe Seanoa as Sweet Tooth, Will Arnett as the voice of Sweet Tooth, and Mike Mitchell as Stu.

The second season of Twisted Metal arrived in July 2025, while the show was then renewed for a third season this past November.

Mitchell just recently said on the Doughboys podcast that he will not be returning as Stu in Twisted Metal Season 3. The actor said that he was “heartbroken” to not be able to return, as the decision appears to be one that was made by producers for both creative and financial reasons.

“I am not trying to be bitter, here,” Mitchell said. “I love the first two seasons of the show. They made changes — the showrunner left, all the writing staff left, and a lot of department heads…a lot of people were let go. There’s been some upheaval…There are a lot of things that are confusing about it for me, but I’m trying — I can’t stay angry forever because I’ll just get sad and angry about it.”

Fan reaction to the decision by Peacock not to bring Mitchell back has not been even remotely positive. Many on Reddit are using the “NoStuNoStream” hashtag, meaning they won’t watch the third season unless Mitchell is allowed to return.

u/SevereEducation2170 said on the r/television thread, “Executives are such idiots. Stu is a major character, and tossing him aside is absurd. Especially considering the end of season 2. How you can look at a surprise hit and think ‘let’s renew this but fire everyone who made it work’ is the most Hollywood thing ever.”

u/Bagelofdeath noted, “Over two seasons, it felt like this show was punching above its own weight and it seemed a testament to the cast and crew’s collaborative energy, especially given the closeness of the writers, cast and showrunner. You got the sense they were getting away with something and having a lot of fun doing it, which feels increasingly rare in creative industries. It sucks to see it getting retooled like this and I do wonder if the human/morale cost will be felt in the final product,” while u/ALifelongVacation commented, “Twisted metal without Stu is like an Italian sub with turkey. Uhhh no thank you!”