David Lynch’s Unproduced ‘Unrecorded Night’ Scripts Are Set for Publication
The legendary director’s final sprawling mystery will be released in literary form by the Lynch family.
Summary
- The family of late filmmaker David Lynch has confirmed plans to publish the scripts for his unrealized Netflix series Unrecorded Night
- Longtime collaborators describe the 550-page mystery as a career-defining work and the fourth entry in Lynch’s unofficial Los Angeles canon
- The project was originally set to star Toby Jones alongside frequent players Laura Dern, Naomi Watts, and Kyle MacLachlan
The family of the late, legendary filmmaker David Lynch has announced plans to publish the scripts for his unmade project, Unrecorded Night. Revealed via a reddit announcement from his daughter Jennifer Lynch, the move aims to preserve and share the “beautiful work” that the auteur completed before his passing last year. Originally pitched to Netflix as a sprawling 13-episode series, also known by the working title Wisteria, the project stalled during the pandemic and remained one of the industry’s most whispered-about “lost” masterpieces.
Described by producer Sabrina Sutherland as “the best thing he ever did,” Unrecorded Night was written as a massive 550-page “continuing story.” The narrative reportedly serves as the fourth installment in Lynch’s Los Angeles cycle, following the thematic footsteps of Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Inland Empire. Cinematographer Peter Deming, who read the script during pre-production scouting, noted that the story blended the surreal atmosphere of Old Hollywood with an original mystery set within the filmmaking world of Los Angeles.
While the series never moved into principal photography, the cast was rumored to feature a high-caliber ensemble of Lynchian regulars including Laura Dern, Naomi Watts, and Kyle MacLachlan. It has recently been revealed that British actor Toby Jones was slated to lead the series in what would have been his first collaboration with the director. By releasing the scripts in book form, the Lynch estate intends to provide fans with an official, authorized look at the vision that could not be realized on screen, discouraging the circulation of unauthorized or leaked versions.
Stay tuned for more details.
