Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has revealed he commissioned a limited series from David Lynch prior to the cult filmmaker’s death.
Lynch, the celebrated director of avant-garde films such as Eraserhead, Mulholland Drive, The Elephant Man and the much-loved TV show Twin Peaks, died on Thursday at the age of 78.
In a lengthy tribute posted to his personal Instagram account, Sarandos recalled meeting Lynch when the streaming service was still a fledgling DVD company.
“In my earliest days at Netflix, when we were only mailing DVDs around the United States – I had the most amazing experience meeting one of my all time favorite film makers in his home,” wrote Sarandos.
“We tried to stock every movie on DVD, but one of my favorite movies, Eraserhead, was not commercially available. I reached out to David and asked for a meeting and at his dining room table we agreed to a bulk buy of Eraserhead and for Netflix to produce a DVD of all of his visionary short films.
“After we agreed to make this happen, David gave me a tour of the house and his art. Then he asked if I would like to take a look at an early cut of his next film. I thought he meant some scenes. He brought me to his screening room and ran a nearly three-hour cut of Mulholland Drive. I hadn’t planned on being there all day but was amazed to be in David Lynch’s home and in his screening room watching his yet to be released new film.
“About 2 hours in, I realized that he had left. I watched the rest of the film and let myself out.”
The Netflix CEO went on to say that he met Lynch again on a more recent occasion, when the filmmaker proposed making a new television series for the streaming service.
“David and I only spoke on a few occasions after that but years later, he came into Netflix to pitch a limited series which we jumped at,” continued Sarandos.
“It was a David Lynch production, so filled with mystery and risks but we wanted to go on this creative ride with this genius. First Covid, 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.
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“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). David Lynch was an unapologetic genius. 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.”
Many fans and collaborators have paid tribute to Lynch since his death, including Steven Spielberg, Kyle MacLachlan, Naomi Watts, Nicolas Cage and Lara Flynn Boyle.
