Glen Powell’s Real-Life Childhood Tornado Encounter Made It into Twisters

Glen Powell's Real-Life Childhood Tornado Encounter Made It into Twisters

As a gamer and movie enthusiast who grew up in Texas, I can totally relate to Glen Powell’s real-life experience with tornadoes that inspired his character in the new summer action movie “Twisters.” The fact that he drew from his childhood encounter with an actual F5 tornado adds an authenticity and depth to his portrayal of storm chaser Tyler Owens.


As a gamer, I’d put it like this: In the latest summer blockbuster “Twisters,” I find myself drawn to the captivating and daredevil storm chaser named Tyler Owens, played by Glen Powell. Interestingly enough, Powell drew inspiration for his character from a personal experience – an encounter with a real tornado that hit when he was just a kid.

On July 18, Powell joined “Late Night with Seth Meyers” for the first time to discuss everything related to “Twisters.” Although Daisy Edgar-Jones, Powell’s co-star, grew up in England and had no personal encounters with tornados, Powell, being a native Texan, could draw inspiration from witnessing one as a child, as he shared during his conversation with Seth Meyers.

Glen Powell’s real-life Twisters tale

When I was nine years old, a massive F5 tornado hit Jarrell, Texas. As we were heading to my aunt’s ranch, I found myself right in its path, riding in the car with my aunt and packed with cousins.

“We managed to survive. Despite appearing unscathed, an incident from a rodeo show found its way into [‘Twisters’], during which I share some experiences related to that event,” Powell mentioned.

The Late Night Host inquired if Powell felt fear or excitement about the tornado encounter. In response, Powell expressed, “That’s exactly what we were discussing earlier, isn’t it? You’re initially captivated. But then, seeing an adult afraid makes you consider, ‘Perhaps I ought to be scared as well.'”

“He noted, ‘The allure of Twisters lies in their captivating beauty alongside an element of fear'” or “He explained, ‘There’s a strange appeal to the terror and wonder of Twisters‘”

Glen Powell's Real-Life Childhood Tornado Encounter Made It into Twisters

It appears that filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, famous for his Oscar-nominated movie “Minari,” expressed a similar fascination with the fearsome tornadoes as Powell.

In an interview with Total Film, Chung expressed his curiosity: “I pondered over creating a film where I would solely focus on the grandeur and awe-inspiring power of tornadoes, similar to the intensity of a fire. Tornadoes possess the same force that exposes people’s inner selves and relationships. Consequently, I was eager to delve into this theme through my movie.”

Glen Powell's Real-Life Childhood Tornado Encounter Made It into Twisters

As Powell says in Twisters, “You don’t face your fears, you ride ’em!”

Twisters opens in theaters everywhere Friday, July 19. Click here to pick up tickets.

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2024-07-22 18:01