In a characteristically enigmatic video message posted to social media on May 27th, David Lynch, the 78-year-old auteur known for his dark surrealism, announced a new project set to debut on June 5th. Wearing his trademark Wayfarer sunglasses despite being in a dimly lit room, Lynch simply uttered, “Ladies and gentlemen, something is coming along for you to see and hear, and it will be coming along on June Five.”
The cryptic message has sparked a flurry of speculation among Lynch’s devoted fans. The “see and hear” aspect suggests a cinematic or televisual endeavor, but given Lynch’s penchant for the unexpected, it could be anything. Could we be getting a long-awaited sequel to one of his cult classics, or perhaps something entirely different?
Aside from his charming daily weather updates and number readings on YouTube, Lynch has remained relatively quiet on the creative front since the release of ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ in 2017, the third season of his groundbreaking ’90s TV series. Known for his ability to capture the uncanny and subconscious states of mind that lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary spaces, Lynch has always remained true to his unique creative vision, building a filmography that is as weird and wonderful as it is acclaimed. However, his last feature film, ‘Inland Empire,’ was released way back in 2006.
In the intervening years, Lynch has filled his time with transcendental meditation (which he has practiced twice daily since 1973), coffee (he used to consume up to 20 cups a day), carpentry (he is an accomplished woodworker), and other creative pursuits, including the release of the 2011 album ‘Crazy Clown Time’ and the publication of his semi-autobiographical book ‘Room to Dream’ in 2018. In the latter, he revealed that his last attempt at a feature film was in 2010, when he wrote a script titled ‘Hotel’ that featured “space aliens, talking animals, and a beleaguered musician named Pinky.” Unable to secure financing for the project, it was ultimately shelved.
Lynch has not been particularly complimentary about the film industry in recent years. In a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he stated, “I think part of the reason ideas haven’t come in is that the world of cinema is changing so drastically, and in a weird way, feature films I think have become cheap. Everything is kind of throwaway.”
Despite his reservations, there is still a glimmer of optimism, as he continued, “I think that somewhere along the line, ideas will start coming and I may make a feature film. But I don’t hold out any hope for an audience. I just make it because I’m in love.”
More recently, there was Lynch’s ‘Wisteria/Unrecorded Night’ project, which fueled excitement and rumors in 2020. The supposed 13-part Netflix TV series was shrouded in mystery, although ‘Twin Peaks’ fans were convinced it was related to the ‘Eat at Judy’s’ diner in the last season, which was located on Wisteria Street. ‘Twin Peaks’ star Kyle MacLachlan further stoked the flames on social media by posting a picture of wisteria. However, there has been no news about the project since, leaving its fate uncertain. Could it be that the June Five revelation is related to ‘Wisteria/Unrecorded Night’?
Only time will tell. As Agent Dale Cooper once said, “I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.” And with David Lynch at the helm, we can expect nothing less.
