UPDATED: Twin Peaks fans’ quarter-century wait is over. One of the top cult series of all time is coming back with a new limited series on Showtime from its original creators, David Lynch and Mark Frost. The nine-episode series will go into production in 2015 for a premiere in 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary of when the series finished its run on ABC. In a fact that will delight Twin Peaks devotees, Lynch and Frost will write and produce all nine episodes, with Lynch set to direct every episode.
The new Twin Peaks will be set in the present day, more than two decades after the events in the first two seasons. It will continue the lore and story of the original series, with Lynch and Frost committed to providing long-awaited answers and, hopefully, a satisfying conclusion to the series. It is unclear which actors from the original series will be featured in the followup. I hear that star Kyle MacLachlan will be back, reprising his role as FBI Agent Dale Cooper who was at the center of the show. UPDATE: MacLachlan hinted at his return as Cooper on Twitter later today: “Better fire up that percolator and find my black suit :-) #Twinpeaks.“
The ABC series also featured some of Lynch’s favorite character actors, and it is likely that at least some of them will return. Leading to the 2016 debut of the Twin Peaks limited series, Showtime will re-air the first two seasons of the series, owned by parent CBS Corp.
“What more can I say – Twin Peaks with David Lynch and Mark Frost on Showtime in 2016!” said Showtime Networks president David Nevins. “To quote Agent Cooper, ‘I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.’” Added Lynch and Frost, “The mysterious and special world of Twin Peaks is pulling us back. We’re very excited. May the forest be with you.”
Lynch and Frost fueled speculation about a possible Twin Peaks revival with identical cryptic tweets posted at 11:30 AM Friday: “Dear Twitter Friends: That gum you like is going to come back in style! #damngoodcoffee“.
“Damn good coffee” was a phrase frequently used by MacLachlan‘s Agent Cooper on the show, expressed typically while eating cherry pie in the town’s cafe. The tweet’s 11:30 AM time stamp matched the time Cooper first entered the town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Lynch and Frost picked the same 11:30 AM time today to tweet another clue, “Tween Peaks on Showtime.” The two tweeted an announcement video making it official:
The Twin Peaks limited series comes on the heels of the July Blu-ray release of the entire original series by Showtime sibling CBS Home Entertainment.
Groundbreaking, genre-bending, stylish, moody and a little weird, Twin Peaks became a phenomenon when it premiered in April 1990, with the two-hour opener drawing mind-boggling 34.6 million viewers. The series followed the inhabitants of a quaint northwestern town who were stunned after Palmer is shockingly murdered. The town’s sheriff welcomed the help of FBI Agent Cooper, who came to town to investigate the case. As Cooper conducted his search for Laura’s killer, the town’s secrets were gradually exposed. Here are the series’ opening credits, set to the haunting theme by Angelo Badalamenti.
After a very strong first season, viewership for Twin Peaks tapered off in Season 2 when the Laura Palmer murder was resolved midway through the season. Despite the series’ cancellation after 30 episodes, it was never forgotten, with its cult following only growing as years went by. Lynch’s 1992 movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, which he directed from a script he co-wrote with Robert Engels, served as a prequel to the series. It left most questions from the show unanswered, so fans continued to wish for another season. But for Lynch, Twin Peaks seemed a closed chapter. Asked in a 2001 Empire interview whether he would ever go back to the show, he said: “No. Uh-uh. It’s as dead as a doornail.”
Thankfully for the fans, he changed his mind.
Later on Monday, Madchen Amick — who played Shelly Johnson on Twin Peaks — tweeted:
Crap, now I have to order Showtime.
me too
Same here! I’m not missing this for anything.
This will be the reason for me to watch television again since Breaking Bad.
Yep, me too. I cannot wait!
I have mixed thoughts about the original show. The first handful of episodes were some of the very best in television: distinct and memorable characters, strong storyline, groundbreaking style, etc. The second half of season 1 and all of season 2 were pretty much unwatchable. I can’t remember a show going so bad so quickly. Hopefully with a limited number of episodes, the story will go strong and be much more focused. I’m cautiously optimistic about these new episodes.
The reason it lost steam in season 2 is because Lynch stopped directing the episodes and Frost had started new projects. The network pressured them to answer the mystery of who killed Palmer prematurely and I think Lynch lost interest for awhile.
I have faith that with Frost and Lynch working together and Lynch directing all the new episodes, it will be fabulous!!!!!
I can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unlikely I will hear better news today.
There was a very good reason why this series ended after just 2 seasons in 1991 – this will be like digging up a rotten old corpse…
Yes, because the production demands of network television 20+ episode orders meant that Lynch and Frost couldn’t write and direct every episode, so they had to hire writing staff and weekly shooters with no appreciation for ttheir style or a modicum of their talent. With shows like The Knick showing what a talented single director can do with a limited series, the “too many cooks in the kitchen” syndrome won’t be a problem this time out.
That “very good reason” was that network interference forced Lynch and Frost to take the show in a direction they didn’t want to. They never intended to solve the Laura Palmer murder, at least not until the end of the series. After drifting for the middle third of season 2, the show came back strong and finished with 15 of the best minutes ever filmed for television.
With the same original creators at the heart of this return, I have nothing but high hopes.
Not really, remember the whole 25 years later deal? I think it’s brilliant myself. My favorite show of all time. to each their own though. I respect your opinion.
jack nance WILL return!
Jack’s dead
Still.
Wrapped in plastic.
I agree with Zach about the downfall of quality of season 2 once Laura Palmer’s killer was revealed. But 25 years later, TV consumption has changed so much (Netflix and other streaming services) that Lynch can do whatever he likes with the series as this time he won’t depend on the ratings of the initial broadcast. And let’s face it: We wouldn’t have “True Detective” or “Broadchurch” without “Twin Peaks”. Also, David Lynch will direct all episodes: The best episodes of the series were those ones directed by Lynch.
True, but the episodes directed by Tim Hunter were also pretty terrific.
There are tens of thousands of TP followers who have been waiting years for this news. I hope they make more then 9 episodes!!
Fantastic news! Sherilyn Fenn has played one of my favorite characters ever so I hope she comes back. At least she has some time to lose all that weight she gained before the show goes to production (her face is still gorgeous though). As for Lara Flynn Boyle she could also come back for all I care but first she has to either stop all that nonsensical plastic suregery or repair it cause she looks beyond awful nowadays.
Proving once again that a woman’s worst enemy is another woman.
Hey! Sherilyn is still gorgeous as eff and she hasn’t hade done anything to her face, she just has to lose some weight and she’ll be a walking 10. As for Lara… well, you know what I said is true. They can always cast Moira Kelly in her role just as they did with the movie.
Only in a world where saying mean nasty things of little consequence is worse than doing mean nasty things of lasting consequence…just sayin’
Her comment was horrible but you aren’t doing anyone any favors by trivializing more serious issues than some nobody criticizing a celeb who will never see it.
dudes what the **** are you talking about??? Lara Flynn Boyle simply destroyed her face and that’s a fact
Also, Sherylin was smoking hot when he did the Audrey role, so it’s sort of a big deal if she is not right now. Not saying everyone should be thin, or that he should go to hell because she’s fat, or anything. I mean, she won’t be able to play a femme fatale with that body. Don’t know what’s all the fuzz about Yolanda’s comment.
This is exactly what’s wrong with our society–criticism and praise for the female actors based solely on their physical attributes! The article stated the new series will pick up 20 years after the original ended. Don’t you think after 20 years people would look different and act differently? Whether the actress aged well or had a ton of plastic surgery in the intervening time SHOULDN’T MATTER AT ALL. And if it does, then a good screenwriter can easily blend those “real life” facts into the characters’ back story of the last 20 years.
LFB was not a pleasant person…still isn’t, by most accounts. I won’t be mad not seeing her return. Hell, ANY actress could play her in Twin Peaks 25 years later. Now, Madchen Amick…SHE MUST RETURN or there will be looting in the streets.
Woohoo! I was a senior in high school during the first season and it was all we could talk about during lunch. I think I still have Twin Peak-ish dreams. Can’t wait to see Agent Cooper raving about the cherry pie, coffee, and his iPhone. Good time ahead.
This is the best news I’ve heard all day. And I say that as a gay guy in Wisconsin…
:-D!
LOL – me too, WicoJoe! ;)
This is the most EXCITING news I have heard since the initial announcement of an original television series, created by David Lynch, coming to television.
To this day, I still swear that “Twin Peaks” was, and still remains, the BEST television ever. Never has a show (not even “Lost”) been so intriguing, mystical and strange until – and since – “Twin Peaks”.
I have already seen the entire series, at least, four times, ready the full diary and listened to Agent Cooper’s audio tapes.
I can’t wait!
Man negative nancy’s out there. This show was awesome but was not the right time for a series like this. Just like Arrested Development there will be an opportunity to do something great with it, finally.
Season four of AD was a mixed bag at best. If this ends of up being comparable to AD’s revival I’ll be disappointed.
I just found a fish in my percolator! Wow! This is incredible! I hope Michael Ontkean, Madchen Amick, K-Mac and all the other incredibly cast members are back. Now we finally will get to see what happened to Cooper after he was possessed. And Showtime! That means they don’t have to dilute it for the Network. Amazing that Frost and Lynch will be writing/directing every ep. This is going to be epic. Can’t wait to see Snoqualmie Falls and hear that Badalamenti bass line. Damn. I’m psyched. I shouldn’t be too surprised, though. I was using Tibetan Method last week and it said this was happening.
Hear Hear!
Best. Theme. Song. Ever.
Bring back Piper Laurie PLEASE!
Fantastic news! Love it!!
My prediction is now mater how wierd and wonderful –no matter how many questions are answered, no matter how much ‘closure’ the story gets the final frame of the nine hours will end with three simple words : “to be continued”
The best kind of dream come true.
The owls are not what they seem
WHAT!!!! THIS BETTER NOT DISSAPOINT, I’M SO EXCITED!!!
Me too
I am so excited!!!!! Can’t wait. I love this series.
I hope Sherilyn Fenn comes back as Audrey – she was, in many ways, as much the star as Agent Cooper.
Wow Bob WOW! Lol i’m so excited! Best TV series ever imo. I’ll gladly order Showtime! Thanks Mr. Frost and Mr. Lynch!
Come on people, the quality of the second season or lack there of is over stated and has become cliche. Jean Renault and Coopers face-off was great. Delving deeper into the Black Lodge mythology was great, you can never have enough Bob. There is plenty of great TV in most of those episodes. It’s just too bad Frank Silva (Bob) is dead and can’t reprise his role, so creepy good.
This could either turn out to be incredible or a complete fiasco. Either way it will be absolutely fascinating to watch.
AMAZING!