In the final months of his life, David Lynch was quietly developing a new project that would have reunited two of his most beloved collaborators — Naomi Watts and Laura Dern. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Watts revealed that she and Dern were ready to begin work with Lynch as recently as November 2024. "We had a beautiful lunch at his house," Watts shared.
"I knew he’d been unwell but he was in great spirits," Watts recalled. "He wanted to go back to work — Laura and I were like, 'You can do it! You could work from the trailer.' He was not, in any way, done. I could see the creative spirit alive in him."
The project in question is believed to be Wisteria (or Unrecorded Night), a limited series Lynch had been quietly developing with Netflix. Rumors dating back to 2019 mentioned a 13-episode order and an $85 million budget. Watts and Dern were even seen at Netflix HQ with Lynch.
Production was reportedly close to starting in 2021, but the pandemic halted progress. Later, Lynch’s producer Sabrina Sutherland confirmed the show was not Twin Peaks-related, but was shelved due to COVID and health concerns.
After Lynch’s passing, Netflix’s Ted Sarandos paid tribute, saying: "We jumped at the chance to work with him. It was filled with mystery and risks, but we were all in. First Covid, then some health uncertainties led to the project never being produced."
Though the series will never be realized, knowing that Lynch’s final creative spark included Watts and Dern adds a poignant layer to his already legendary legacy.
