The second instalment of Twisters is on its way. The first Twister movie, starring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, was beloved by many, and this sequel aims to keep the thrilling action going strong.
In the original Twister, we were taken on a wild ride as dust storms and tornadoes hit Oklahoma. A team of passionate storm chasers set out to deploy a research device in the midst of this chaotic weather. The movie was praised for its impressive technical aspects, earning Oscar nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound.
Idea of Twisters 2
The idea for a Twister sequel was born more than two decades after the first one. The project started to take shape in the year 2020 when Universal Pictures began talking to Joseph Kosinski, known for Top Gun: Maverick, about directing.
Then, Helen Hunt stepped in to write and direct the sequel in the year 2021. However, those plans changed in 2022 when a new kind of sequel was in the works with writer Mark L. Smith, famous for The Revenant.
The legendary director Steven Spielberg was so impressed with Smith’s screenplay that he brought Amblin Entertainment on board as one of the production studios. Now, the sequel is being directed by Lee Isaac Chung, the talent behind Minari.
When the director of the original Twister, Jan de Bont, was asked about his thoughts on Twisters, he gave a thoughtful response. He mentioned that the practical filmmaking style that was used in the original, like using real elements in the tornado scenes, is a thing of the past.
Nowadays, studios rely more on green screens and CGI. He wasn’t very optimistic that a modern studio would recreate the practical effects of the original, saying it “would never, ever happen again.”
De Bont is unsure about how the sequel will turn out, but he’s keeping an open mind. He mentioned the success of Greta Gerwig directing Barbie as an example of how someone unexpected can make a film work. In the end, he believes a new approach might be a pleasant surprise.
The official confirmation for the Twister sequel, Twisters, came in October 2022. Universal Pictures confirmed that Mark L. Smith would be the screenwriter, although the director wasn’t set at that time.
The project went through several potential directors before Lee Isaac Chung took the helm in December 2022. The movie is a joint venture between Universal, Amblin, Warner Bros. Pictures, and the Kennedy/Marshall Company.
Release Date
Twister 2 release date was initially set for July 19, 2024. Filming was supposed to finish by July 2023. However, the team can’t meet this deadline due to a strike. Universal is in charge of the movie’s American release, while Warner Bros. will handle international distribution.
Twister 2 Cast
Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell are set to lead the cast of Twister 2. It’s their first time working with Lee Isaac Chung. Daisy made a name for herself with her role in Normal People, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Glen Powell has been busy, particularly after his role in Top Gun: Maverick. The cast for Twisters also includes Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Daryl McCormack, Maura Tierney, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka, Nik Dodani, David Corenswet, Tunde Adebimpe, and Katy O’Brian.
The Twisters story will follow the legacy of the original and is set decades later. The lead character is expected to be the daughter of Jo Thornton and Bill Harding, the storm-chasing couple from the first movie.
While the protagonist may not initially share her parents’ passion for tornadoes, circumstances could change her perspective. Her journey might take her on the same path of studying and chasing storms.
Conclusion
Twisters is set to expand the scale of the story, involving a wider network of tornadoes across different areas. With new challenges and characters, the sequel aims to offer a thrilling experience while paying homage to the original.
Legacy sequels like Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the Jurassic World series, and Top Gun: Maverick have shown that they can be successful if done right. We hope Mark L. Smith’s screenplay for Twisters will strike that balance between honoring the original and bringing something fresh to the table.
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