The original movie was about a group of storm chasers eager to study one of the most powerful tornados in decades. The team deploys a cutting-edge device that will gather data and create a visual model of tornadoes. Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment are hoping to recreate the magic of the original with the much-awaited sequel Twisters. Universal and Warner Bros will co-finance the film similar to the original. It will be Universal Pictures taking the creative lead for the sequel. According to reports, Amblin’s Steven Spielberg “flipped” over the script written by Mark L. Smith. The screenwriter is best known for his work in The Revenant which has won numerous awards including three at the Academy Awards. Spielberg has green-lit and fast-tracked the production of the sequel. Joseph Kosinski was originally tapped to direct the film. He has stepped down from the project, citing a scheduling conflict, as he is due to direct an untitled Formula One movie for Apple TV+ starring Brad Pitt. Kosinski previously worked as the director for Top Gun: Maverick and Tron. Universal and Amblin are reportedly in the process of finding a replacement for Kosinski. There were several candidates mentioned as front runners to direct the Twister sequel. The duo of Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vaserhelyi, who directed the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo are said to be strong contenders to helm the project. Dan Trachtenberg, who previously worked on Prey and 10 Cloverfield Lane has also been rumored as one of the candidates for director. He has, however, denied the rumors in a tweet.
— Dan Trachtenberg (@DannyTRS) October 17, 2022 Animator and film director Travis Knight has also been mentioned in the shortlist of directors. Knight previously worked on the Transformers franchise reboot Bumblebee. Sources revealed that the sequel hopes to bring back Helen Hunt to reprise her role as Dr. Joanne “Jo” Harding, a meteorologist and storm chaser. The plot of the sequel is said to be centered around her and her daughter with Dr. William “Bill/The Extreme” Harding. The late Bill Paxton portrayed the role of Dr. William Harding in the original. The original had an ensemble cast featuring Hunt, Paxton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, Todd Field, and Jeremy Davies. The screenplay for Twister was written by the late author Michael Crichton. Steven Spielberg was an executive producer for the original film. It is no surprise that Universal and Amblin are eager to work on the sequel as the original was a box-office and commercial success. The movie raked in $494 million worldwide in box office sales and was the second highest-grossing film of 1996. Independence Day starring Will Smith was the highest-grossing film of that year. The plot of the movie is very timely as the world is grappling with the effects of climate change. Extreme weather, partly science fiction in 1996, is now a reality and has affected countries worldwide. Twisters hopes to start filming in the early spring of 2023.
