Movies News Talk
Those who loved the first 1996 movie, Twister, may find a familiar face in the new film. Paying homage to his father's legendary performance in the original, James Paxton, son of the late Bill Paxton, has a brief but noteworthy cameo in the movie.
James Paxton plays Cody, an unhappy motel guest who is first introduced complaining about trouble booking a room. The scene offers a darkly humorous means of breaking through the tension of the approaching Twister. While the main characters, Kate and Tyler, are trying to survive the storm, Cody and his girlfriend discount the risk until it is too late.
James Paxton's looks is fleeting and ends in a violent death. Cody and his girlfriend run to their car to outrun the twister once they at last understand the peril. Sadly, they cannot flee in time and are caught by the cyclone, which during Twisters is considered as the death sentence. Although their deaths aren't depicted on TV, it's strongly hinted they die in the twister.
James Paxton's scene in Twisters is a deft approach to allude to the legacy of the original movie while yet keeping the movie stand-alone. James said in an Entertainment Weekly interview that the cameo honored his father. The movie also notes Bill's contributions to the field of Twister by showing that aspirant meteorologists still use his Dorothy storm-tracking system, so verifying that the movies live in the same universe.
Set years later, Twisters follows the 1996 original. Steven Spielberg and Mark L. Smith are fast-tracking the movie; Frank Marshal is producer. Although specifics about the sequel are few, Helen Hunt is expected to play Jo again, and the movie probably honors late Bill Paxton.