The director of Twisters argued movies are not meant to be “message-oriented” when addressing the lack of climate change in his new film.

The movie, releasing in theaters Friday, features scientists seeking to survive against deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma. Lee Isaac Chung, the film’s director, contended that his film does not “shy away from saying that things are changing” but sought to ensure the film is not “putting forward any message.”

“I wanted to make sure that we are never creating a feeling that we’re preaching a message because that’s certainly not what I think cinema should be about,” Chung said in an interview with CNN. “I think it should be a reflection of the world.”

Chung added that part of the film’s purpose is to showcase the “awe and wonder” of tornadoes, referring to a childhood experience had himself. His run-in with a tornado happened while he was raised on an Arkansas farm, and he said it left “a very big imprint” on him.

“That sense of awe and wonder was something that I really wanted to preserve in this film, that it’s not just a summer blockbuster about running from tornadoes and hiding away,” Chung said. “I wanted to make sure that we’re also revering and honoring the beauty of that power.”

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The movie serves as a stand-alone sequel to 1996’s Twister, which grossed almost $500 million at the global box office. Among the 2024 film’s lead cast is Glen Powell, best known for his supporting role in Top Gun: Maverick as Jake “Hangman” Seresin.

Chung’s omission of climate change in Twisters comes after John Musker, a veteran director for the Walt Disney Company, suggested Disney focus on its stories and characters before prioritizing a film’s message. He contended that Disney does not need to avoid messaging altogether but should undergo “a course correction” in its film production.