Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Twisters!
Summary
Helen Hunt doesn’t appear inTwisters, but because of this, I know the perfect way for her to return inTwisters 2. As a big fan of the originalTwister, I thought thatTwisterswas a fantastic follow-up, with the legacy sequel capturing the feel and main ideas of the first movie. WhileTwistersdoes feature severalTwisterEaster eggs and references, the two films are mostly disconnected, withno original movie stars reappearing in the sequel. However,Twistersdoes set up the perfect story that could bring Helen Hunt’s character back inTwisters 2.
Upon the announcement ofTwisters, I was initially nervous, as it didn’t seem like there was a logical way to giveTwisterthe legacy sequel treatment. I was a bit confused over whetherTwisterswas a sequel or reboot, but when I found out that it was a sequel, I was worried that it would rely too heavily on nostalgia from the 1996 original. Some fans are saying thatTwisterswent too far in the other direction, however, as it didn’t even feature Helen Hunt’s Jo Harding. I don’t mind this absence, though, as she could reappear inTwisters 2.
Twisters' 10 Best Quotes
From Tyler’s one-liners to Kate’s quippy retorts, there are a ton of great lines in Twisters. It’s one of the most quotable movies of the year.
Helen Hunt Could Return As Jo To Help Kate, Tyler, & Javi’s New Partnership
She Could Be Part Of The Team
Although Helen Hunt’s Jo Harding didn’t have a great place to appear in the story of the legacy sequel,the ending ofTwistersopens the door for her return inTwisters 2. At the end ofTwisters, Tyler goes after Kate at the airport, convincing her to stay and chase another storm. It seems as if the film is teasing a new partnership between Kate, Tyler, and Javi, with them remaining in Oklahoma and continuing to chase storms after theirTwistersadventure.
Jo Harding didn’t play the role of Kate’s mom, something that was heavily rumored before the release ofTwisters.
Since the trio is looking to form a new storm-chasing organization,they’ll need to bring in some experts, and no one is more qualified than Jo Harding. Jo Harding would be a perfect addition to the team, as her experience from the first movie would allow her to logically cross over with the new batch ofTwisterscharacters. Interestingly, there already is a connection between the cast ofTwistersand Jo Harding, as it is never explainedhow Kate got the fifth iteration of Harding’s Dorothy experimentfrom the original film.
Twister vs. Twisters: Which Tornado Movie Is Better
The 2024 disaster movie sequel Twisters comes 28 years after the original released, and the two movies have naturally invited comparisons.
Twisters 2 Is The Right Time To Bring Helen Hunt Back
She Would’ve Overshadowed Them In Twisters
It was a smart decision not to bring Helen Hunt back inTwisters, butTwisters 2would be the right time to have her character return.Twisterswanted to focus on an all-new cast of characters, and giving them their own film was the right move.Twisterswas able to fully focus on developing Kate, Tyler, and the rest of the gang without having to be concerned with balancing them with original movie characters.Twistershas established a new batch of storm chasers without relying on nostalgia from original movie characters, something that makes the new cast stronger.
Now thatTwistershas accomplished its mission of creating new lovable characters,Helen Hunt’s Jo Harding can return. Since each of theTwisterscharacters has been established,Twisters 2doesn’t have to worry about Jo Harding overshadowing any of the new cast. Having a storm chaser from the 1990s like Jo Harding interact with storm chasers from the 2020s could be an interesting dynamic, and I would be excited to see howTwisters 2merges these different eras of theTwisterfranchise.
Twisters Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play
The Twisters soundtrack contains country songs by Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, and more. Here’s when each song plays in the movie.
Twisters 2 Can Still Use Helen Hunt’s Original Return Plan
Killing Her Off At The End
Helen Hunt was originally interested in returning for aTwistersequel, and she even came up with a story for it. Helen Hunt originally wanted her character to be the mentor of a new team of storm chasers, setting up the film’s new characters. However,she then wanted her character to die in the film’s opening scene, with one of the titular weather events leading to her death before the beginning of the main story.
Although bringing Helen Hunt back forTwisters 2only to immediately kill her off would be a bit weird, this original story could be integrated into the story ofTwisters 2. Since theTwisterstrio is trying to start their own storm-chasing group, Helen Hunt’s Jo Harding can still come on as a mentor. She could also die later in the film, putting an end to her time with the franchise. While this would be a tragic ending for many fans like me, I would be excited to see Helen Hunt return in aTwisterssequel nevertheless.
Twisters
Cast
A follow-up to the 1996 original film Twister, Twisters is a sequel set years after the original, said to be fast-tracked by Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith, with Frank Marshal as producer. Little details exist about the film, but Helen Hunt is expected to reprise her role as Jo, with the film likely to pay homage to the late Bill Paxton.
