Helen Hunt is thrilled by the ongoing appeal of Twister

Helen Hunt is delighted that 'Twister' has stood the test of time.

The 61-year-old star played tornado-obsessed Jo Harding in the 1996 disaster film and is happy with the renewed attention resulting from the upcoming sequel 'Twisters' although is saddened that late co-stars Bill Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman are not around to see it.

Helen told Entertainment Weekly: "It's fun (to see 'Twister having a moment). I wish... There's two key actors who aren't with us anymore who did it with me, so I wish they were here, and there was some kind of all-get-together version of it.

"Some people will say, 'Did you at the time...?' And the answer is almost always 'No'. You don't know that a movie's going to be a success. But with this movie, I knew it was either going to be a big success or a big failure because this wasn't some little art movie.

"So, the fact that it holds up is amazing. I've been in big movies, and you look back, and you have to cringe a little bit because technology's come so far. But I don't know that it's come further than what Jan (de Bont) did with this movie."

De Bont has no involvement in the sequel but thinks that it will lead to newer audiences watching his original "many times".

The 80-year-old director said: "That would be great. That's all I can say. And I hope they look at it... I mean, I don't know anything about the new movie; I wasn't involved and haven't seen it yet.

"But if (people have) not seen this version, I can guarantee you that anybody who is willing to buy it, you will have a really good time. And I'll bet you they will play it many times, too, not just one. They will play it over."