David Lynch makes film career promise after concerning health update

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David Lynch has reassured fans about his future in filmmaking after opening up about his health issues.

The filmmaker behind movies like Eraserhead and Mulholland Drive, as well as the creator and actor in Twin Peaks, shared recently that he is unable to venture out of his home due to a diagnosis of emphysema.

In an interview with Sight & Sound magazine, 78-year-old Lynch revealed that he has developed a health issue from smoking for many years. He also hinted that he may not direct any more films in the future.

"I have developed emphysema due to smoking for a long time, which has made me unable to leave my home, whether I want to or not. It would be detrimental for me to catch any illness, even just a cold," he explained. He also shared that he can only walk a short distance before running out of oxygen.

This is why Lynch explains that if he works on another project, he will not be able to physically be there. Although he mentioned that he is willing to work remotely if necessary, he admitted that he would not prefer that option.

Lynch's remarks caused worry among his followers - and Lynch talked about this in a subsequent message on X/Twitter on Tuesday (6 August).

He stated: "Hello everyone, I admit that I have developed emphysema as a result of my many years of smoking. I must confess that I found smoking quite enjoyable and I have a deep appreciation for tobacco - from its scent to the act of lighting a cigarette and smoking it. However, there are consequences for indulging in this pleasure, and for me, it's emphysema. It has been more than two years since I quit smoking.

Lynch reassured his supporters that, following numerous examinations, "the great news is that I am in great condition apart from emphysema." He also stated: "I am brimming with joy, and I have no plans to retire. I just want all of you to understand how much I value your care. With love, David."

Emphysema, which is also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is primarily brought on by smoking, air pollution, and being around dust and chemicals while working. The World Health Organization has estimated that by 2030, it will be the third biggest cause of death globally.

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Lynch's most recent work on screen was Twin Peaks: The Return, which debuted in 2017. It was very popular with audiences and the network that aired the show, Showtime, expressed interest in producing another season.

Lynch has faced challenges in starting a new project, an animated film named Snootworld. He first started working on this project twenty years ago with Caroline Thompson, who has worked on popular films like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands.

"I had the idea that maybe Netflix would like to take on this project, so I pitched it to them a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, they passed on it," he explained.

Traditional fairy tales are often seen as outdated and disliked by many. People nowadays seem to prefer more modern stories over the old-fashioned ones. The times have changed, and it seems that it has become more common for people to reject these classic tales rather than embrace them.

The filmmaker's most recent full-length movie was Inland Empire, which came out in 2006. He stirred up anticipation in 2017 by revealing a new project, which turned out to be the short film What Did Jack Do? released on Netflix.

In 2018, Showtime officially announced that they would produce additional episodes of Twin Peaks whenever Lynch was prepared.

"We are very happy that we were able to work on Twin Peaks," said programming president Gary Levine during the Television Critics Association press tour.

"He mentioned that the work was amazing, the response from fans was amazing," he said. "I'm not sure when he wants to do more. The opportunity is always available for Mark [Frost] and David for Twin Peaks — or any other projects they want to discuss."

In a previous discussion about coming back for a fourth season of Twin Peaks, Lynch mentioned: "I've learned to never rule anything out."

Nevertheless, the director stated: "It is premature to determine whether or not a fourth season of the series will occur."

"If that happened, we would need to wait longer because it took me over four years to write and shoot this season."