"I like it better"— Twisters director explains why the kiss scene was removed from the movie

Modified Jul 22, 2024 18:11 GMT

Twisters director explains why the kiss scene was cut (Image via Universal) — Twisters stars Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones in a still from the movie (Image via Universal)

Twisters, the standalone sequel to the Twister (1996) movie, opened up to a huge success at the box office. This natural disaster film made over $80.5 million in North America and grossed $123 million worldwide. The film was released on July 19, 2024, by Universal Pictures, while it was initially premiered on July 8, 2024, at Cineworld Leicester Square in London.

Directed by Lee Isaac Chung and based on a story by Joseph Kosinski, Twisters received numerous positive reviews from critics. It is the third highest-grossing film of the year thus far, after Inside Out 2 and Dune: Part Two. The story follows a group of storm chasers who go on a mission to stop a fatal tornado before it's too late.

Kate and Tyler share an unconventional chemistry (Image via Universal)

Fans loved the on-screen chemistry between its central characters, Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Tyler Owens (Glen Powell). Many fans showed their disapproval when a clip surfaced on social media, showing an alternate ending where Kate and Tyler finally kiss, which was removed from the final cut.

Lee Isaac Chung, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, said he did not want Twisters to not turn out like a conventional love story and explained why he removed the scene.

“I feel like audiences are in a different place now in terms of wanting a kiss or not wanting a kiss. I actually tried the kiss, and it was very polarizing — and it’s not because of their performance of the kiss. This [no-kiss shot] was the other option that I had filmed on the day, and I got to say, ‘I like it better. I think it’s a better ending.’”

Twisters director explains why the kiss scene wasn't included in the ending

Twisters end up a twisted ending (Image via Universal)

Director Lee Issac Chung said he had shot both of the alternative endings together. Now he had to choose between the two, and he decided to go with the one where they parted ways on an open note. Chung said he liked it better because it gave the characters a bit more time, and maybe they will kiss someday. This is a good way to leave the characters to develop by themselves rather than stressing the plot. It provides a more organic approach to the story.

“If it ends on the kiss, then it makes it seem as though that’s what Kate’s journey was all about, to end up with a kiss. But instead, it’s better that it ends with her being able to continue doing what she’s doing with a smile on her face,” Chung added.

Daisy Edgar-Jones, who played the role of Kate Carter, described the no-kiss ending as a much more refreshing approach.

“What you’re ending it on is two individuals who are so equal in their love and interest and intelligence and understanding of weather,” the British actress said.

While Powell humorously added to the coversation,

“I’m taking a little offense that they didn’t want to use it. Maybe it’s just my abilities, I don’t know,” the actor joked.

What is the Twisters movie about?

Kate Carter works at a weather forecasting office in New York City and is still haunted by her memories. She was working as a storm chaser in Oklahoma and went on a mission to test a new technology, Dorothy V, to reduce the intensity of tornadoes by launching sodium polyacrylate into them. But the mission soon turned out to be fatal, and the tornado took most of her crew members, including her boyfriend Jeb.

Tyler is a well known storm chaser (Image via Universal)

Only Kate and her friend Javi survived, and they abandoned the mission. But years later when her friend Javi invites her to test a groundbreaking tracking system for tornadoes, she gets lured back into the job. While on the mission, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a well-known YouTube storm chaser, popularly known as "Tornado Wrangler."

She dismissed his team as glory hounds but soon realized Tyler's dedication to controlling tornadoes and providing for their victims. Situations begin to intensify when they find a tornado escalating toward them. Kate and Tyler find themselves on a fatal mission, where they have to work as a team to stop this calamity before it destroys thousands of lives.

Kate returns back to Oklahoma (Image via Universal)

Twisters is a very successful continuation of the classic Twister film, continuing the storm-chasing legacy.

Edited by Somava