Both Paxton and Hunt expressed interest in producing a Twister sequel over the years, but their projects never got off the ground. On February 25, 2017, Paxton died following complications from heart surgery.
Fortunately, his son James Paxton, who was just over a year old when his father made the first film, is now an actor as well, and landed a role in “Twisters,” playing a disgruntled hotel customer in a key scene.
“It was amazing that James agreed to come in for a small role in this movie — just having him there and having a kind of spiritual connection with Bill on the set with us,” says Chong.
Paxton said diverse He auditioned for the role, but once he got the offer, he and his family had to consider the emotional implications of joining the sequel. Ultimately, he felt it was the right thing to do to honor his father's legacy and a project that was special to him.
“This work is dedicated to him and to the fans of ‘Twister.’ I thought it was really cool that they found a way to incorporate that,” James Paxton said. “I wanted to be a conduit for my father’s spirit. I wish he was the one here to show up in this new chapter instead of me, but I’m happy to do it.”
Once he arrived at the group, he also discovered an interesting connection with Paul.
Glenn has worked with my father before. [on the 2013 indie ‘Red Wing’] “He had some funny stories to tell me,” Paxton said. “Then, somehow, Spy Kids 3 came along, and Glenn said, ‘That was my first movie ever,’ and I said, ‘That was my first movie ever.’ I was 9 years old visiting my dad on the set, and it was Robert Rodriguez’s idea that led me to this little release.” [of Bill Paxton’s character]”.”
The Paxtons aren't the only family connections in the film: Powell's parents, Glenn Sr. and Cindy, appear in the rodeo scene (they've had small roles in several of the actor's films and sit directly behind him and Edgar Jones). Additionally, his sister, Leslie Powell, sings the national anthem to begin the scene.
In the same scene, a background actress sits next to Edgar Jones who tells Chong that she appeared in his hit, Oscar-nominated film “Minari.”
“I was so happy about it,” Chung says. “But then she said, ‘And you were in the original Twister.’”
It turns out the extra also appears in an emotional scene where Jo Hunt surveys the wreckage of the small town of Wakita and catches a glimpse of a mother, father, and their young daughter who reminds her of her own daughter (before her father was swept away in this film's painful prologue).
“We weren’t trying to do this,” the director adds enthusiastically. “It just happened. What a coincidence? It was crazy!”
