Twisters movie full of thrills and science, stars say, Entertainment News

LONDON — Nearly 30 years after the blockbuster Twister, deadly tornadoes and their pursuers return to the screen in an updated tale of extreme weather.

Twisters is a “contemporary chapter” of its 1996 predecessor, its creators say.

The series centers on storm expert Kate Carter, played by Daisy Edgar-Jones, and storm chaser and superstar streamer Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), who cross paths during a once-in-a-generation tornado outbreak in Oklahoma.

Directed by Minari filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, Twisters introduces advanced technology and a new generation of adrenaline junkies with a massive social media following in his big-budget action film debut.

“This is a new chapter. This is just a modern-day telling of the same community that audiences responded to in ’96,” said Powell, who premiered the film in London on Monday (July 8).

“The public can expect a lot of fun and excitement, and they can just buckle up and get on the ride,” adds Edgar-Jones.

Powell’s Owens is a former rodeo star and self-described “tornado wrangler” whose raucous crew seeks out danger with gusto. The Texan, Powell, 35, said both the original film and the reboot spoke to him personally.

“When I was about nine years old, there was a tornado that went through Jarrell, Texas, and we were on our way to my aunt’s ranch and got kind of stuck in it. It was really scary… But we cleaned up after that tornado. It’s one of those things that stays with you for the rest of your life,” he said.

“This film is really about what we do in the face of storms, but also how we pick each other up in the aftermath of a disaster,” Powell said. “It’s something that affects a lot of people, and not just tornadoes, but weather all over the world. I think that’s why it’s a universal film.”

“Twisters,” written by Mark L. Smith, is based on consultations with meteorologists, climate scientists and real-life storm chasers, Chung said.

“We had people who were working on the cutting edge of climate science and also tornado science. We tried to incorporate as much of that into this film as possible to honor what’s really happening and also to honor the scientists who are heroes in many ways. If we’re going to look at solutions, we have to look to the scientists,” he said.

Chung hopes his sequel, like Twister, will leave a lasting impression.

“That first film inspired so many people to get into weather science and research. I would love to see that happen with this film, that we could inspire a new generation of people who want to do research and get out there and study.”

Twisters opens in theaters worldwide on July 10.

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