Movie fans were stunned to learn Hollywood icon Naomi Watts had been poised to reunite with acclaimed director David Lynch before his tragic passing.
Recognised for masterpieces such as Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, and Wild at Heart, Lynch passed away on January 16 this year at the age of 78, shortly after disclosing an emphysema diagnosis.
Among those he kept in touch with were former collaborators and dear friends Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern.
Lynch was reportedly speaking with Dern and Watts, with both actresses urging him to return to work just months before his death.
The news comes from a recent interview with Watts, as film fans were left heartbroken at the thought of Lynch preparing to head back to work but passing as a result of his diagnosis.
Reflecting on their last meeting, Watts shared: “I knew he’d been unwell but he was in great spirits. 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.”
She added: “There’s a lot I could share but I want to be private about it because of his family. But it was a really powerful meeting that filled me with just so much love and hope.”
Despite brimming with ideas, Lynch faced challenges in bringing new films to fruition following Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017.
His potential project titled Unrecorded Night encountered its untimely end when Netflix pulled the plug amidst the COVID-19 crisis, leaving fans to wonder what cinematic gems might have been.
Producer Sabrina S. Sutherland revealed: “Unrecorded Night was a non-Twin Peaks series that was going to shoot at Netflix but was cancelled when the pandemic hit. There’s always a chance we can pick it up again […] we were in Pre-production and close to shooting.”
The disclosure of Watts’ involvement in Lynch’s work has fans in a flurry, especially considering her role in 2001’s Mulholland Drive. One online commentator confessed: “I think I was finally able to think about him without crying, and then I read this.”
Another shared their sorrow, stating: “My heart is breaking at this.” Another disheartened fan expressed: “This is really sad and disappointing. There will never be another David Lynch.”
Viewer sentiments on missing further collaborations between Lynch, Naomi Watts, and Laura Dern run high. One person mourned: “I would have loved to see what he, Naomi, and Laura created together. What a loss.”
Meanwhile, Netflix has come under fire from users questioning the platform’s recent decisions, particularly its projects with Anthony and Joseph Russo.
One critic opined: “And Netflix was like pass. We only giving blanks checks to the Russo Bros to fail.”
Dismay also surrounds the reception of the Russo Brothers’ The Electric State on Netflix, which premiered to a meagre 10% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
An exasperated user ranted: “$320M? $320M!?! All of that money, and for what, Netflix? David Lynch couldn’t get any projects greenlit with you guys while he was still alive, and you throw enough money for 20 Lynch films on this?”