Glen Powell has responded to the backlash over his cut kiss scene with Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters.
- READ MORE: Twisters review: ‘90s-style blockbuster sweeps in to save the day
In a new interview with Screen Rant, the actor said he is “delighted” by the chatter surrounding the deleted scene, as it shows that fans “care” about the film and characters.
“I really think that even that [backlash] shows that people care, which is really great,” he said. “I just love how excited people have gotten about that movie, and Daisy and I send each other the TikToks and the gifs. There’s so much funny stuff coming out of it. It’s fun.”
In the sequel to the 1996 film – which was released in cinemas on July 19 – Edgar-Jones’ Cooper is a retired storm chaser who’s brought back into the game to test a groundbreaking tracking system with her friend Javi (Anthony Ramos). They soon cross paths with Powell’s character Tyler, a charming but reckless social media star who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures online.
At the end, Powell runs through the airport to catch up with Edgar-Jones and the pair head off to chase more storms together. Following the film’s release, it was revealed that an alternate ending that included a kiss between the two stars was filmed, but ultimately scrapped. When set footage of the kiss went viral online, it sparked a backlash from disappointed fans.
Powell added that the jokes and discussion around the deleted scene are exactly “what summer movies are about”.
“It creates this conversation and cultural moment, and people dress up and do the thing,” he continued. “It’s been really awesome.”
In a recent interview, Twisters director Lee Isaac Chung explained why the kiss scene was cut from the film.
Speaking about the decision, Chung told Collider: “I have to say, I like both versions and there were many arguments made to have them kiss. My 13-year-old niece is very mad at me that I didn’t have them kiss because she saw that version and she loved that.
“But it feels to me that Kate’s journey and the reward at the end for her should not be a kiss, but that she’s found companionship, she’s found community again, and she’s also come back to her sense of purpose, which is chasing these storms. So a storm is coming in, and those two together decide to go out to chase that storm, and I love that ending. So, many apologies to my niece and other people.”
In a glowing five-star review of Twisters, NME wrote: “With cinemas under strain and would-be movie behemoths bombing all over the shop, it’s as if Twisters has been made with the sole purpose of sweeping in to save the day. Every cent of that $200m budget is visible in a series of dizzying set-pieces that surely amount to the most entertaining film of the year.
“Packed with heart, smarts, jaw-dropping effects and an exquisite ensemble cast, Twisters will have you singing the praises of the multiplex until the cows come home.”