The Emotional Impact of Bill Paxton on Glen Powell During the Making of ‘Twisters’

Anticipation is building for the stand-alone sequel to the beloved film Twister (1996), with stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones acknowledging fans’ eager expectations.

As an avid admirer of the original, Powell shared with Yahoo Entertainment his deep emotional connection to the project, largely influenced by his friendship with the late Bill Paxton, who co-starred with Helen Hunt in the classic disaster film.

“This movie holds a special place for us,” Powell reflected, mentioning how Paxton’s legacy added a profound layer to the experience. Growing up in Texas, Powell felt a personal resonance with Twister, describing it as a reflection of his own community.

His collaboration with Paxton in the 2013 film Red Wing forged a bond that made working on Twisters particularly poignant, especially since Paxton’s son, James, has a cameo in the new film. “Having James on set and hearing stories about Bill grounded the experience in a way that’s hard to articulate,” Powell noted.

In Twisters, Powell takes on the role of Tyler, a modern storm chaser and social media influencer with a blend of charisma and scientific prowess, akin to a cowboy scientist.

His character teams up with Edgar-Jones’s Kate, a meteorologist and former storm chaser, who embodies qualities reminiscent of both Paxton’s and Hunt’s roles from the original.

Despite not consulting Hunt, Edgar-Jones found immense inspiration from the original film, which she watched multiple times to capture the aim of storm chasing and the camaraderie it fosters.

Reflecting on her role, Edgar-Jones expressed how Kate’s journey, marked by personal trials, evolves through her partnership with Tyler, rekindling her passion for storm chasing. “The joy and community spirit of the original cast was incredibly helpful to emulate,” she explained.

Powell concluded, “When you create something that is both entertaining and emotionally important, it’s a beautiful convergence. That’s the aim of this film.”