Update: David Lynch Departs Twin Peaks Revival; Showtime Releases Statement

Following weeks of rumors many hoped were unfounded, Easter Sunday brought breaking news that filmmaker and co-creator David Lynch has left the highly anticipated Twin Peaks revival, scheduled to premiere on Showtime in 2016. 

Early on Sunday, Twin Peaks Festival broke the rumor that Showtime had altogether cancelled the impending third season, written by co-creators Lynch and Mark Frost, and to be directed by Lynch. Later, Lynch himself clarified the goings on in a message his Twitter and Facebook accounts. It reads: “Dear Facebook 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.”

Apparently scripts for the third season have been written by Frost and Lynch, but if the series does move forward, many would certainly feel it lacking without the filmmaker’s iconic touch – which was supposed to unfold over nine episodes, shot on 35mm no less. Surely, we all hope some sort of agreement can be reached and Lynch returns. Showtime meanwhile has told TV Line things are “status quo.”

Update: Showtime has now released an official statement on the matter. The network says, “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.”

This now seems a hardcore case of negotiating in public.

Twin Peaks of course is the seminal, short-lived 1990-91 series by Frost and Lynch which chronicled the titular town and its inhabitants, as well as FBI Agent Dale Cooper, in the wake of the murder of Laura Palmer. Peaks was a massively influential cult series, telling a grim yet humorous, supernatural and distinctly Lynch-ian tale that had much of the world asking “Who killed Laura Palmer?” The show’s popularity swiftly declined after said question was answered and the second season seemed to drift aimlessly, before concluding in stunning manner. It was followed by Lynch’s undervalued Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me in 1992.