Steven Spielberg advised against a kiss in ‘Twisters,’ focusing on character passion and realism.
In the newly released film ‘Twisters,’ a sequel to the 1996 hit ‘Twister,’ the characters played by Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones don’t share a kiss in the final scene, and the decision behind this surprising ending came from none other than legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg.
In a recent interview with Collider, Powell and Edgar-Jones discussed the absence of a romantic conclusion for their characters, Tyler Owens and Kate Cooper.
Edgar-Jones explained that Spielberg, 77, suggested the choice to forgo the traditional Hollywood kiss, stating, “I think it’s a Spielberg note, wasn’t it? Do you know what it is? I think it stops the film feeling too cliched, actually.”
She appreciated how the decision left room for the characters’ story to feel ongoing. “This isn’t the end of their story. They’re united by their shared passion for something.”
Powell, 35, echoed her sentiments, emphasizing that the film’s focus was not on a romantic union but on rekindling Kate’s passion for storm chasing. “It’s returning Kate to the thing that she loves, which is storm chasing.
So that’s what you have at the end of the movie,” Powell said. He felt that a kiss would have misrepresented the film’s true goal. “It is a good Spielberg note. It’s why that kid is still in this game. It’s amazing.”
Director Lee Isaac Chung also weighed in on the film’s ending in a separate interview with Entertainment Weekly. Chung, 45, revealed that while there was an alternate ending featuring an embrace between the two characters, the team decided against it.
“It was very polarizing,” he said. “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.'”
Chung and Edgar-Jones both found the no-kiss ending to be refreshing. “What you’re ending it on is two individuals who are so equal in their love and interest and intelligence and understanding of weather,” Edgar-Jones said.
Powell humorously expressed mild disappointment, joking that he took “a little offense that they didn’t want to use” the kiss scene.
However, Chung stood by the decision, explaining that a kiss would have made it seem like Kate’s journey was solely about finding love, rather than rediscovering her passion.
Prior to the film’s release on July 19, Edgar-Jones and Powell shared their experiences filming ‘Twisters’ with PEOPLE. Reflecting on their initial meeting on set, Powell recalled, “What made me laugh was Daisy came in this very chic outfit with a scarf and all these different things.
Cut to — that was the last time I saw Daisy dressed up. We wore sweatpants for the rest of the shoot.” Edgar-Jones added with a laugh, “I made so much effort for that first date,” to which Powell replied, “First date, just came out of the gate, full style.”
‘Twisters’ serves as a standalone sequel to the original ‘Twister’ and includes a talented cast featuring Anthony Ramos, Brandon Perea, Sasha Lane, and Maura Tierney.
The film also pays homage to its predecessor with a cameo by James Paxton, the son of original ‘Twister’ actor Bill Paxton.
Spielberg’s influence on ‘Twisters’ has added a layer of depth and realism to the film, steering it away from cliched endings and focusing on character development and passion.
By ending the movie without a romantic conclusion, Spielberg, Chung, and the cast have created a narrative that celebrates individual passions and professional pursuits over conventional romantic tropes.
Now in theaters, ‘Twisters’ offers audiences a thrilling and heartfelt continuation of the storm-chasing adventures that captivated viewers nearly three decades ago.
