The news that early-’90s cult classic TV show “Twin Peaks” would be rebooted, complete with the involvement of original co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost, seemed like such a victory for fans of the series.
The fact that the show was going to return on premium cable outlet Showtime seemed even better; but, it turns out, that happiness was short-lived, and now the return of “Twin Peaks” is in question due to disagreements between Lynch and the network.
Lynch announced on Twitter Sunday night that he was pulling out of the show, which he was set to direct, despite having completed scripts for all nine episodes:
“Dear Twitter Friends, Showtime did not pull the plug on Twin Peaks.
“After 1 year and 4 months of negotiations, I left because not enough money was offered to do the script the way I felt it needed to be done.
“This weekend I started to call actors to let them know I would not be directing. Twin Peaks may still be very much alive at Showtime.
“I love the world of Twin Peaks and wish things could have worked out differently.”
Lynch’s choice of words is curious: it doesn’t sound, necessarily, as though he’s complaining about his own salary, but the amount of money Showtime was willing to dedicate to the production budget. It’s difficult to say.
Showtime responded with this statement, via the Guardian:
“We were saddened to read David Lynch’s statement today since we believed we were working towards solutions with David and his reps on the few remaining deal points. Showtime also loves the world of Twin Peaks and we continue to hold out hope that we can bring it back in all its glory with both of its extraordinary creators, David Lynch and Mark Frost, at its helm.”
Frost hasn’t said anything, but the promo announcing the return of the show touted Frost and Lynch as package deal. Showtime president David Nevins acknowledged how crucial Lynch’s involvement would be earlier this year speaking before the Television Critics Association.
“It felt like the only way that you could do it would be to have David committing to directing all of them,” Nevins said.
The influential series was set to make a splash in 2016, 25 years after it went off the air, and coinciding with Laura Palmer’s declaration, “I’ll see you in 25 years.”
The Washington Post
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