LONDON — Almost 30 years on from the blockbuster Twister, deadly tornadoes and their chasers return to the screen for an updated extreme weather tale.
Twisters is a “current-day chapter” of its 1996 predecessor, its makers say.
It centers on storm expert Kate Carter, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, and chaser and superstar streamer Tyler Owens (Glen Powell) whose paths cross during a once in a generation tornado outbreak in Oklahoma.
Directed by Minari filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, in his big-budget action movie debut, Twisters introduces advanced technology and a new generation of adrenaline junkies with a large social media following.
“This is a new chapter. This is just a modern telling of that same community that audiences responded to in ’96,” said Mr. Powell, premiering the film in London on Monday.
“Audiences can expect lots of fun, lots of thrills and just to strap in and go on the ride,” added Ms. Edgar-Jones.
Mr. Powell’s Owens is a former rodeo star and self-titled “tornado wrangler” whose rowdy team courts danger with gusto. Texan Mr. Powell, 35, said both the original movie and the reboot resonated with him personally.
“When I was like nine years old, there was a tornado that went through Jarrell, Texas, and we were on the road to my aunt’s ranch and got kind of stuck in it. It was a really terrifying thing… But we cleaned up after that tornado. It’s one of those things that imprints on you for the rest of your life,” he said.
“This movie’s really about what we do in the face of storms, but also how we pick up after each other in the wake of disaster,” said Mr. Powell. “It’s a thing that affects a lot of people, and not just tornadoes but weather all over the planet. I think this is a universal movie for that reason.”
Twisters, written by Mark L. Smith, is based on consultations with meteorologists, climate scientists, and real-life storm chasers, said Mr. Chung.
“We had people working on the forefront of climate science and also tornado science. We tried to incorporate as much of that into this film as possible to honor what is actually happening and also honor the scientists who are heroes in many ways. If we’re going to look to any solutions, we have to look to the scientists,” he said.
Like Twister, Mr. Chung hopes his follow-up will leave a lasting impact.
“That first film inspired so many people to get into weather science and research. I would love if that would happen with this movie, that we would inspire a new generation of people want to research and get out there and study.”
Twisters will start screening in Philippine cinemas on July 17. It has an MTRCB rating of PG. — Reuters
