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This past week, the film community mourned the loss of David Lynch, a trailblazing director, who died at the age of 78. Numerous fans and colleagues have taken to social media and other platforms to express their condolences and celebrate his influential body of work. Among those paying tribute is Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO of Netflix, who shared his admiration for Lynch on Instagram, calling him one of his “all-time favorite filmmakers.”
Sarandos reflected on a pivotal moment when Lynch nearly brought “his final project” to Netflix. “He visited Netflix to discuss a limited series that we were eager to support. It was a David Lynch creation, filled with intrigue and unpredictability, and we were excited to join him on this creative journey,” Sarandos recounted. “Unfortunately, the pandemic and some health issues hindered production on this project. We assured him that whenever he was ready, we would be on board.”
“David Lynch was an unapologetic genius,” Sarandos expressed. “His extensive body of work is astonishing, innovative, daring, and artistic. I will always ponder what he envisioned for us.”
Lynch is celebrated for his influential films, which left a lasting impact on American cinema from the 1970s to the 2000s. His final film, Inland Empire, was released in 2006, and his last directorial project was the much-acclaimed Twin Peaks: The Return, which he co-wrote and directed in 2017, revisiting the beloved 1990s series he created with Mark Frost. Although this third season remains his final directorial endeavor, there were speculations for years regarding other potential films and television projects he was developing.
Among the rumored projects was a limited series for Netflix, initially thought to be titled Wisteria and later Unrecorded Night. Peter Deming, the cinematographer of Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks: The Return, mentioned in a 2021 interview that he was unaware of the project’s status, as it had been postponed due to the pandemic, but he hoped it would “come back to life at some point.” It’s likely this is the same project that Sarandos referred to.
While fans of Lynch may be saddened to learn that he was close to producing another limited series, they can still take solace in the remarkable films and shows he has created during his prolific career. His work, particularly Twin Peaks: The Return, stands as an extraordinary conclusion to the oeuvre of a filmmaker of his stature.
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