I pulled this quote from Lynch on Lynch. When asked if the cast was enthusiastic to make the movie after the series ended:Ross wrote:Agreed- but this actually goes along with what I was saying. It wasn't only critics and some fans who had turned against TP and Lynch. Boyle, Fenn & Maclachlan had all been hyped as the next big thing when TP hit big, and by the time everyone had turned on it, they had as well. Each wanted nothing to do with it, and all three refused to be in the film. Of course Kyle later agreed to a brief role only because of his friendship with Lynch.redroompodcast wrote:And I will gladly admit that when i heard there was a new Donna, No Audrey, and hardly any Cooper, I was disappointed.
"No. I wish that was the case. Some people felt that way. And then some people felt the opposite. It was 75 percent, you know, very good. But that 25 percent... you just say, 'Why is this happening? This could be so great.' And attitude is so much of it."
I feel "This could be so great" kind of hits the nail on the head for me. I really do love the finished film and yet, it feels like a missed opportunity for these reasons. I appreciate and enjoy the Deer Meadow stuff in its own way, but it's hard not to imagine that entire first half-hour of the film with Agent Cooper in the lead for the Teresa Banks investigation. And coming off the series, it certainly feels in every way, that's how it was supposed to be.
For me, the finished film survives just fine without Audrey involved because she wouldn't have an obvious place in a story about Laura Palmer's final days. Of course, I'd love to see her in it because I feel Audrey is such an essential component to everything that is Twin Peaks. But considering that the movie Lynch initially desired to make would have included Audrey and significantly more Cooper, it's hard not to imagine how wonderful that movie could have been. And I have this feeling that if Audrey (umm... Sherilyn Fenn) had been available, the idea to not veer away from Laura Palmer's central story would be a little less important. If Audrey's energy had been in the mix (even if just a couple strong scenes), I have this feeling we would have seen more supporting characters like Pete, Big Ed, Sheriff Truman, etc. in the finished movie.
I'm totally daydreaming here, of course. And while I'm at it, I think if Sherilyn Fenn would have joined, Richard Beymer would have totally been onboard. All in all, it would have felt a bit more like a Twin Peaks movie.
But I don't mind that Moira Kelly subbed for Donna. I mean, it's not ideal for consistency but surprisingly, I really don't miss Lara Flynn Boyle. I got over her absence after the first two viewings, and haven't thought about it since.