David Lynch had major new project in works for Netflix before his death at age 78

David Lynch was working on a limited series for Netflix at the time of his death according to Ted Sarandos, the co-CEO for the streamer.

Sarandos revealed the information in a tribute to the late filmmaker and television show creator, who died after a long battle with emphysema on Thursday at the age of 78.

The executive wrote in a social media post on Friday that the legendary director ‘came into Netflix to pitch a limited series which we jumped at.’

‘It was a David Lynch production, so filled with mystery and risks but we wanted to go on this creative ride with this genius.’

Sarandos said that the Covid-19 pandemic which sent Lynch into isolation due to his emphysema, ‘then some health uncertainties lead to this project never being produced but we made it clear that as soon as he was able, we were all in.’

‘The last time I spoke to David was as thrilling as the first. He came to my home with my friend and his muse, Laura Dern and we had a long amazing conversation about projects, cinema, life, art and my windows (He loved my windows),’ Sarandos explained.

David Lynch was working on a limited series for Netflix before his death at age 78, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The media executive revealed the information in a lengthy tribute to the late writer and director on social media Friday

After earning Oscar nominations for directing The Elephant Man and Blue Velvet, the versatile and quirky writer and director changed the TV landscape with his breakthrough series Twin Peaks, a thriller about an FBI agent who travels to a small town to investigate the death of a prom queen.

The mystical mystery series won two Emmys during its three seasons.

Read More David Lynch wished for ‘everyone to be free of disease’ in his final public appearance

After his 2006 movie Inland Empire, an eerie story about an actress who begins to adopt the persona of her film character with nightmarish results, the prolific writer and director began to focus on short films and videos written, produced and directed by Lynch.

It wasn’t until 2017’s Twin Peaks: The Return, that he sold a major project to a network on studio. All 18 episodes of the sequel, starring Dern and Twin Peaks veteran Kyle MacLachlan, were shown on Showtime.

In his post, Sarandos recalled how reached out to Lynch in the Netflix’s early days to bulk buy copies of Eraserhead, which the executive revealed was one of his favorite movies.

The deal also included a promise from ‘Netflix to produce a DVD of all of his visionary short films.’

In an April 2024 interview with ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Lynch revealed Netflix has pᴀssed on his animated project Snootworld, and that he was seeking financing for it.

‘Snootworld is kind of an old fashioned story and animation today is more about surface jokes,’ Lynch told the outlet. ‘Old fashioned fairytales are considered groaners: apparently people don’t want to see them. It’s a different world now and it’s easier to say no than to say yes.’

Sarandos wrote in a post on Friday that the legendary director ‘came into Netflix to pitch a limited series which we jumped at.’ ‘It was a David Lynch production, so filled with mystery and risks but we wanted to go on this creative ride with this genius’; seen in 2017 in Cannes, France

Lynch was best known for his ground breaking television show Twin Peaks, and his quirky and gritty films, including Blue Velvet. After his 2006 movie Inland Empire, Lynch worked on short films and videos, and did return to a network until 2017’s Twin Peaks: The Return for Showtime

Lynch was on supplemental oxygen and unable to do much more than walk cross a room in the months before his death he told People in November.

Sources told ᴅᴇᴀᴅline the director’s health took a turn for the worse when he was forced to evacuate his Hollywood Hills home as flames from what was referred to as the Sunset fire approached the area.

Whether any of Lynch’s notes for his proposed Netflix series survived his death, is unknown. ‘David Lynch was an unapologetic genius,’ Sarandos ᴀsserted. ‘He didn’t want you to understand his work. He knew that was impossible and it was part of the ride together.’

‘His body of work is remarkable, visionary, bold and artful. I will always wonder about what he had in mind for us with what would have been his last project.’