Was the New ‘Twister’ Sequel Shot in Iowa?

The 1996 disaster movie classic Twister needs no introduction. If you grew up in the 1980s or 1990s and lived in the Midwest, there's a good chance the movie helped make you paranoid when it came to severe weather. It also helped spawn a new generation of meteorologists by getting them intrigued by calamitous weather conditions.

The weather-based thriller still holds up 26 years later thanks to strong special effects and engaging performances from Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt. Twister also holds a special place in the hearts of Iowans because the film was shot pretty much exclusively in the state of Iowa. Now, there's a sequel set for release in July, and maybe you're asking the question I was: was the sequel shot in Iowa?

Why Twister was Shot in Iowa:

While you might be well-aware of Twister, you might not know that Twister had quite the troubled production history, however. The film was originally supposed to be filmed in Oklahoma. After experiencing delays so the cast and crew could assist with aid in lieu of the Oklahoma City bombing, the crew also realized that Oklahoma's topography was drastically changed by the seasons.

Filming was hastily moved to Iowa, where the climactic scene with the F5 tornado was shot pretty much exclusively in the town of Eldora. The cornfields the characters sprint through was located in Ames. Finally, the "twister hill" scene was shot in Boone County, IA (Pilot Mound, specifically). The site is so noteworthy, it's actually its own map dot on various websites!

Is Twisters a Remake, a Sequel, or a Reboot?:

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Even as big of a movie buff as I am, I did have to Google to make sure what Twisters exactly was. The upcoming movie is indeed a sequel to the 1996 film. However, the film's IMDb page also refers to it as an "update" of the original:

An update to the 1996 film 'Twister', which centered on a pair of storm chasers who risk their lives in an attempt to test an experimental weather alert system. - per IMDb

The film's star, Glen Powell, even dismissed the idea the film is a reboot by saying:

We’re not trying to recreate the story from the first one. It’s a completely original story. - Glen Powell per Vogue Magazine

Was Twisters Filmed in Iowa?:

Unfortunately, unlike its predecessor, Twisters was not filmed in Iowa. Principal photograph took place in Oklahoma City with filming occurring at Prairie Surf Studios for 40 days and in the Oklahoma City metropolitan for 50 days. However, the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike caused filming to be suspended last July. Production resumed when the strike concluded in November 2023.

Twisters is set to be released on July 19, 2024.

Read about other films shot in Iowa here!