I loved the Ben story! I don't even care. Actually, some of the Civil War [!@#$%^&*] really grated a little in my recent run-through. But as Richard Beymer says in the book I also think it was a genuine attempt to evolve a character from something other than their prior, standard characterization, and I liked the results - when Ben became this sort of on-the-fence, 'kind' philanthropist in the final stretch who sometimes does more harm than good, and you can't quite tell whether he is 100% genuine in his motives or not.

I also thought, despite the Wheeler thing and Sherilyn Fenn's issues with that, that Ben and Audrey bonding closely over his empire and his making her his heir was a very natural evolution for her. She looked great in those power suits. Unlike most of the female youth set at that point, Audrey still had agency, even if she was off in a bubble.

Edited March 8, 201510 yr by Vee

David Lynch gave a lot of us heart attacks this morning at his exhibition in Australia by suggesting (or leading some to suggest) that TP's fate might be in doubt, murkily mentioning something about contract negotiations. This is Welcome to Twin Peaks' report, which is constantly being updated and IMO has an entirely unnecessary and scaremongering headline:

BREAKING NEWS: CONSTANTLY UPDATED]

Worrying reports are coming in from readers of Welcome to Twin Peaks who attended the opening of the Between Two Worlds exhibition in Brisbane and they’re confirmed by the Twittersphere: disturbingly, David Lynch last night raised doubts about the widely announced return of Twin Peaks on Showtime in 2016.

During a sold out Q&A event and conversation with David Strattan at QPAC, the director and artist was asked whether “Twin Peaks was definitely happening.” David Lynch, breaking his self-imposed code of silence, responded: “I don’t know. There are complications.”

David Lynch added it’s not a funding issue, but a trusted source told Welcome to Twin Peaks that while the scripts are finished after nearly four years in the making, contract negotiations aren’t going as expected.

Reader Patrick Connors softened the blow on our Facebook page: “I saw Lynch say this, but I’m 100% positive he’s just being cryptic.”

José Da Silva, who as the curator of the Between Two Worlds exhibition worked closely with David Lynch for the past year, told another reader that he was confident that a new series of Twin Peaks will happen.

That’s all we know so far, and needless to say, this kind of news leaves Twin Peaks fans worldwide devastated but please DON’T PANIC JUST YET. A delay of any kind wouldn’t be a problem at all, as long as we get the show back, right?

We’re in full investigation mode so stay tuned for more and hopefully good news!

Another poster indicated this post from a fan on Facebook, which sounds reassuring.

To my very limited knowledge, contracts have already been signed for the production and at least some of the cast (Kyle MacLachlan was already very publicly confirmed at the TCAs) and they are ready to go in May or June, so this could be either a) Lynch trying to play public hardball with someone over something, or Lynch being Lynch and just being fussy and not wanting to discuss it, leading to people getting worried over nothing.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by Vee

In other news, Mädchen Amick, Sheryl Lee and Kimmy Robertson still seem pretty happy together.

Also: Jennifer Lynch directs tomorrow night's episode of The Walking Dead.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by Vee

The WTTP twitter is dropping a number of hints, and suggests "another cast confirmation would clear all doubts." This makes me wonder if it's a contract snag with one of the leads. It wouldn't be Kyle MacLachlan who I believe is signed and sealed and very enthusiastic on social media, but I can't imagine who would give them trouble - much of the core TP crew is a very tight-knit and devoted group who love Lynch. They couldn't possibly be over a barrel with Lara Flynn Boyle at this point, either.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by Vee

Do you think it might be a new cast member?

Thanks for letting us know. I guess we'll see. I'm OK with whatever happens.

I'm 95% sure the series is happening - this isn't Prospect Park. Too much money has been sunk into it by Showtime, cast are signed, it did the TCAs and is supposed to shoot in three months. It could be delayed, but more likely it's about some of the cast salaries. There are rumors that some want more cash, but I really have no idea. Either way, it'll get done.

Edited March 14, 201510 yr by Vee

I'm baffled as to who in the cast would even want more, given that most of them aren't exactly big stars. Kyle is the biggest and from what you said he's already signed on. Unless it's someone like Sherilynn and she's still not sure about returning.

He wouldn't have done the TCAs if he wasn't signed and official, AFAIK. He's also been very close to Lynch since Dune. Sherilyn I thought was fairly confirmed, and I also doubt she'd say no to Lynch.

I imagine we'll know more within a few days, or it'll all be resolved.

Lynch from an Australian talk show in the last day or so:

“I haven’t returned yet and we’re still working on the contract, but I love the world of Twin Peaks and I love those characters. And I think it will be very special to go back into that world."

It's starting to sound like this may just be what I thought - a negotiating tactic. Rumors are swirling that it may be about Lynch wanting a bigger chunk of the sales profits from Showtime. Creative control is not an issue, Lynch and Frost received that first.

I expect he'll get whatever he wants and this is all kabuki. Or so I hope. If it's a cast issue that is also doable.

Edited March 16, 201510 yr by Vee

EW runs a piece with a source insisting all is well.

The writer-director reportedly said Showtime’s resurrection of his classic ABC series was “still up in the air” and “there are complications” and that he doesn’t know if the revival is still on.

That was certainly news to Showtime, which has already received all of Lynch’s scripts, greenlit Twin Peaks as a limited series and signed Kyle MacLachlan to reprise his starring role as Agent Cooper. “Nothing is going on that’s any more than any preproduction process with David Lynch,” a source said close to the show said. “Everything is moving forward and everybody is crazy thrilled and excited.”

Still, Lynch’s participation is still considered pretty crucial. Lynch is signed to direct all nine episodes and it’s hard to imagine Twin Peaks returning without his blessing. We reached out to Lynch’s representative for more clarity, but the rep had nothing to say about the director’s comments. Perhaps Lynch simply hadn’t had his morning coffee yet?

I think it is just typical negotiation drama.

Edited March 17, 201510 yr by Vee

This really has hit the media quickly. I wonder how Showtime feels about this type of ploy.

It seems very dramatic but it's standard negotiation ploys, honestly. They have far too much invested in this to walk away, they have signed at least the star (MacLachlan) and presented him live onstage to the assembled industry media at a major public event, and they've pinned their entire future prestige slate on this show. They believe it is what will make them a real contender opposite HBO and GOT.

Kyle MacLachlan sounds optimistic in a recent interview:

There are still things being worked out. But I'm holding a very good thought that we are going to return to Twin Peaks.

I suspect it is largely the distribution/sales part of Lynch's bargain with Showtime. But I'm sure it will be worked out. They have too much on the line now, in public, to let it go, and they know it would be picked up immediately by Netflix or anyone else.

Mädchen Amick talks to Visionarios [sic] Magazine, and says Shelly took her back to her formative years in Reno. The magazine seems to be under the impression the show begins filming in April, but I didn't think it was til June or July.

Edited March 20, 201510 yr by Vee

Amazon UK has a listing for Mark Frost's companion book The Secret Lives of Twin Peaks. It indicates its release as October 8th.