Everything you need to know about the ‘Twin Peaks’ revival

Showtime

Showtime has kept many details of its upcoming “Twin Peaks” revival close to the vest. But as the show’s May 21 premiere approaches, more news about what to expect has arrived.

More than 25 years ago, in 1990, “Twin Peaks,” a mysterious story set in a quaint Northwestern town rocked by a shocking murder, changed TV forever. Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the series only ran for two seasons but went on to become a highly influential cult hit, and now it’s finally getting its season three.

Entertainment Weekly shared a few more details about the revival in a new feature.

If you’re dying to know more about Showtime’s “Twin Peaks” revival, here’s what we know so far:

David Lynch is directing all 18 episodes.

It’s been more than two decades since David Lynch directed episodic television. When asked what fans should expect from his directing style for the “Twin Peaks” revival during the Winter 2017 Television Critics Association press tour, he was fairly vague.

“First, it was just the same as all the others,” Lynch said. “I see it as a film, and film in parts is what people would experience. And it was a joyful, fantastic trip with this great crew and great cast. This word ‘expect’ is a magical word, and people expect things, and their expectations are met, hopefully, when they see the thing.”

Despite long days during the shooting of the series, star Kyle MacLachlan expressed his awe of Lynch’s work ethic.

“It didn’t matter how long [the shoot day was], he was there. He was always up, cheerful, and smiling, and so were we,” MacLachlan, who’s playing FBI agent Dale Cooper again, said.

The original script for the revival was 400 pages.

Lynch had his work cut out for him.

“I think it took me six hours and a few cups of coffee to read, but it was wonderful,” MacLachlan told Entertainment Weekly of the first time he read the script.

The production returned to shoot in Washington, the fictional setting and actual shooting location of the original “Twin Peaks.”

“[It was] both the same and different,” Lynch said at TCA of returning to Washington. “If you go back 25 years in any town and revisit it again, it’s that way. It’s many things remain the same. But also, you feel a change.”

David Duchovny is back as Denise Bryson, the transgender DEA agent he played briefly during the series.

EW posted some first-look images from the revival, which showed many of the actors who are reprising their roles.

In addition to Duchovny, they include Mädchen Amick and Peggy Lipton as Double R Diner waitress Shelly Johnson and owner Norma Jennings, respectively; the late Miguel Ferrer as lab tech Albert Rosenfield; Kimmy Robertson as Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department receptionist Lucy; Harry Goaz as Deputy Andy; and Michael Horse as Deputy Hawk.

There are dozens of new characters appearing in the revival.

In April, Showtime released a list of more than 200 cast members for its “Twin Peaks” revival. Among them are dozens of new characters that will be introduced. They’ll be played by both big stars — Michael Cera, Jim Belushi, Laura Dern, Trent Reznor, Amanda Seyfried, Balthazar Getty, Eddie Vedder, among many others — and newcomers. 

“You try to get the right person for the part. That’s the rule,” Lynch said of the casting during TCA. “And so you meet people, you see pictures of people, you see videos of people, and you get a sense by looking at them and hearing them that they are right or wrong for this particular part, and that’s always the way it is.”

Only one season of the revival is planned.

When asked at TCA about further seasons of “Twin Peaks,” Lynch answered, “Before I said I wasn’t going to revisit it, and I did. You never say no. But right now there’s no plans for anything more.”

The 1992 prequel film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” won’t be ignored by the Showtime revival.

“I could say it’s the story of Laura Palmer’s last seven days,” Lynch told reporters at TCA of “Fire Walk with Me,” “and very much important for [the revival].”

The revival will clarify many aspects that were left unresolved or unexplained from the short-lived series.

“‘Twin Peaks’ is a cosmology,” Showtime President and CEO David Nevins told EW. “What I think is satisfying about the new version is that it’s a deeper exploration of that stuff. What is the Red Room? How does the Red Room work? Where is Agent Cooper? Can he make it back?”

Read more stories on Business Insider, Malaysian edition of the world’s fastest-growing business and technology news website.