TWIN PEAKS' Mark Frost Talks 2016 Revival & What Fans Can Expect

"Harry, I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange."
-- Special Agent Dale Cooper to Sheriff Harry S. Truman

Hot on the heels of yesterday's announcement that Twin Peaks will be returning to Showtime in 2016 for a 9-episode continuation of the original series set 25 years later, TVLine sat down with Twin Peaks co-creator and executive producer Mark Frost for a Q&A session that teased what fans might be able to expect in two years.  Here are some of the highlights:

TVLINE: For about two years now, rumors have been circulating about a Twin Peaks revival being in the works. How long have you and David (Lynch) been formulating this?

FROST:  David and I stayed in touch and remained closed friends throughout all these years. It was about three years ago this summer we were having lunch at [famed Hollywood eatery] Musso & Frank, where we often used to go. And we were just kicking stuff around and we started getting some ideas in our heads about Twin Peaks. Suddenly, it felt like a place we wanted to visit again. And that was the kickoff.

Was Showtime the first place you went?

We didn’t go to anybody else. Showtime was the first and only [network] we spoke to about this. There was a nice sense of continuity there, because Gary Levine, who’s the right-hand man to [Showtime president] David Nevins, was our [creative] representative on the show when we were on ABC. We’ve known Gary a long time. We trust Gary. We like Gary. We had a really great meeting with them. And David [Lynch] really loved the artwork on David [Nevins]‘ office walls. And they loved the show. And that’s how it all came to be.

Just to confirm, this is not a remake, correct? It’s a continuation, like TNT’s Dallas?

It is not a remake. The story continues. The seeds of where we go were planted where we’ve been.

In the series finale, Laura Palmer tells Agent Cooper in the Red Room, “I’ll see you again in 25 years.” That can’t be a coincidence, can it?

When you see it, you’ll know.

Are you looking at this as Season 3 of Twin Peaks?

Not really, but just because my brain doesn’t work that way. I’ve always said that Twin Peaks to me was like a novel we filmed every page of. So this is more like we found another volume of the saga, and now we want to bring that to life too.

Will the nine episodes revolve around a new mystery?

If I told you that I would have to give the Kill command to the Predator drones that are circling your house now. And that wouldn’t be cool. [Laughs]

Will the world of Fire Walk With Me be considered a part of the “Canon”?

I think it should be. It’s definitely part of the mythology of the show, and it reflects the work that was done before and it will have some bearing on the work as we go forward.
 
Is it your goal to bring back as many of the original cast as possible?

Those who want to see old faces, and those would like to see new faces, none of them will be disappointed. It’s far too early to talk specifics about people. We’re not at that stage in the process.

In the past 25 years, several cast members have passed away, most notably former set dresser turned scariest TV character ever, Frank Silva (AKA Killer Bob). How will you handle that loss?

I can’t really say. That’s a tough one to go into without giving away too much.

Will Angelo Badalamenti do the score?

Too early to say.

If it’s a success, could there be more?

We’ve learned never to say never. Anything is a possibility.

The second season was rather polarizing, and some fans felt let down by how the story ended. Are you looking at this as an opportunity to bring the story to a more satisfying conclusion?

It’s our hope that these episodes will give the fans everything they felt they hadn’t gotten the last time we left off.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask, how’s Annie?

[Laughs] Funnily enough, I just showed the second Austin Powers movie to my son last night, who asked me about [Heather Graham]. And I said, “Oh, that’s Annie.” And he said, “Who’s Annie?” And I said, “No, no. The question is How’s Annie?” And judging by how Annie looked in that movie I’d say Annie’s fine.