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Twisters director answers questions fans had about the tie-in to the original Twister

Tornadoes Director Lee Isaac Chung has shed some light on the film’s connection to the original 1996 disaster movie. Twister.

Starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, Tornadoes is a completely new story set in the same universe as its predecessor. Prior to the sequel, fans had speculated that some of the characters from the original film would make cameo appearances, with some theorizing that Edgar-Jones’ character would be the daughter of Helen Hunt’s father. Twister Character, Jo Harding.

However, halfway through the film, we meet Edgar-Jones’ mother, played in the film by News RadioMaura Tierney. The character has no ties to anyone previously established in the world of Twister.

Speaking to The wrapperChung explained the lack of crossover between the two films and offered his opinion on the whereabouts of Hunt’s character during the events of Tornadoes.

“I felt like that wasn’t what I wanted to see Jo Harding doing in a few years,” Chung said. “Immediately after seeing that first film, I was like, ‘What is Jo Harding doing now? ’”

“She’s out there chasing storms, not on the farm complaining that her daughter won’t call her. And that was really the basis of why, ‘OK, “It has to be someone else.”

Chung previously revealed that he did not consult with Hunt or Jan de Bont, the director of the original, before embarking on the sequel.

Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in 'Twisters'
Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in ‘Twisters’ (Universal Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures and Amblin Entertainment)

“I don’t know what[Hunt’s]version was and unfortunately I haven’t been able to talk to her or Jan de Bont or anyone else in the cast about the film,” he said. IndieWire“We have some people who worked on the original on our team.

“When I read the script (by Mark L. Smith from a story by Joseph Kosinski), I loved the approach they were taking, that it was going to be a new story, with new characters and a completely new scientific project… I really think Helen Hunt is a genius and I would have loved to work with her. However, that choice was never in my mind when I went into this.”

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In a four star review of Tornadoes for The IndependentClarisse Loughrey wrote: “There is a part of Tornadoes That feels expected from director Lee Isaac Chung, the man behind 2020’s tender, observant immigrant drama. Minari.

“There are real, tangible communities in the path of devastation (the inevitable mention of climate change reminds us that things only get worse from here), but there is such a sense of solidarity and resilience in the air that it gives an otherwise chaos-driven spectacle of disaster a surprising hint of hope.”

The film is now in theaters.