Warning: Spoilers ahead for Twisters!

Summary

• Tyler's surprising backstory in Twisters is inspired by Glen Powell's real childhood experience with a dangerous tornado.
• Tyler's character seems like just a YouTube "Tornado Wrangler" but actually helps those affected by tornadoes.
• Powell's personal connection to tornadoes adds depth to the character and hints at a possible future tie-in with the original movie.

Tyler Owens has a surprising backstory in Twisters cast, which primarily focuses on Powell's Tyler and Daisy Edgar-Jones' Kate. Despite being a standalone sequel, there are several links and Easter eggs to the original Twister movie from 1996. Tyler and Kate also share many of the same qualities shown through Jo and Bill Harding in the first movie, despite not having any direct connections to the characters.

At first, it seems like Tyler would be an antagonistic character in Twisters, but that notion quickly changes. By Twisters' ending, Tyler proves himself to be something more than a famous YouTube "Tornado Wrangler," working alongside Kate in a scientific experiment that could save lives. His team also shows that a large portion of their storm-chasing adventures end with them helping those affected by destructive tornadoes. Interestingly, one specific detail in Tyler's backstory wasn't actually invented for the fictional character; it came from Powell's own life.

Glen Powell's Real Childhood Inspired Tyler Owens' Tornado Story In Twisters

The Actor Experienced A Real F5 Tornado At A Young Age

To convince Kate that he isn't in the business for fame, Tyler takes her to a local rodeo, where he tells her some of his backstory while the pair sit in the stands. After revealing that he's no stranger to the rodeo, Tyler shares how he got interested in chasing storms, itting that he experienced a very dangerous tornado at a young age while with his aunt. Tyler's story nearly mirrors what happened to the real actor decades prior.

much of the story Tyler shares with Kate in Twisters was inspired by what happened to Powell and his family

Glen Powell previously stated (via THR) that he was in an F5 tornado with his aunt and cousins in 1997. Therefore, much of the story Tyler shares with Kate in Twisters was inspired by what happened to Powell and his family when he was around eight. Powell also confirmed that it was the tornado that hit Jarrell, Texas, in May 1997. Sadly, the tornado that went through the town that day ended up killing 27 people, making it one of the deadliest tornado events in Texas' history.

Glen Powell's Tornado True Story Was A Great Fit For His Twisters Character

The Detail Added A Personal Touch To Tyler Owens

Though Powell and his family survived the terrifying event, he still recalls "looking at my aunt for guidance on how to feel," something Tyler also mentions in Twisters. It may have been a tough childhood memory for Powell, but it became an effective way to explain why Tyler felt the need to "wrangle" tornadoes later in life. It was never truly about fame and YouTube subscribers like Kate first assumes. In reality, Tyler knew what it was like to be in the path of something that could change your life instantly, just like Kate learned with her tornado history.

Interestingly, director Lee Isaac Chung also experienced tornadoes while growing up in Arkansas, which is why he was a suitable fit to make the follow-up movie for a new generation. He may have also indirectly opened the door for a fun connection to the original 1996 movie. Helen Hunt doesn't return as Jo in Twisters, but it's possible that she could appear in a future sequel. Seeing as none of Tyler's family appears in Twisters, it would be perfect to find out that Jo is Tyler's aunt.

Source: THR