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With its surreal storylines and gripping homicide mystery, 'Twin Peaks' has changed modern television forever because it first hit our screens in the Nineteen Nineties.
Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, the series earned cult status, in spite of being canceled after two seasons. In 2017, Showtime aired a limited collection that might serve as third season, starring lots of the show's unique solid. This revival of the show noticed one notable absence: that of Lara Flynn Boyle, who performed Laura Palmer's easiest pal Donna Hayward.
It is not clear why Flynn Boyle didn't return to 'Twin Peaks' on its latest season, however there are a couple of explanations for that we are going to discover in this characteristic.
What Is 'Twin Peaks' About?
Premiered in 1990 on ABC, the series revolves around the homicide of youngster woman Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) within the the city of Twin Peaks, Washington.
In 1989, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) will get into Twin Peaks to investigate the homicide. Everyone who knew Laura is prepared to lend a hand, including her well-meaning absolute best good friend Donna and a sequence of bizarre, quirky characters that can have a skeleton or two of their closets. Nothing is as it kind of feels in Twin Peaks, as enthusiasts know, and the plot thickens, main Cooper to make some unsettling discoveries.
Take this as your (gentle) spoiler warning if in case you have by no means watched the series, or the prequel film, 'Fire Walk With Me', launched in 1992.
In the first season, Donna is distraught by way of Laura's death and seeks solace within the palms of Laura's secret lover, biker James Hurley (James Marshall). The two examine Laura's murder and double lifestyles (also explored in prequel 'Fire Walk With Me,' where Donna is performed by way of 'One Tree Hill' megastar Moira Kelly).
The 2nd season revealed Laura's killer (even though we may not say who did it!), and took a turn for the weirdest, with Cooper continuing being involved in the town's secrets.
As for the revival, it is set 25 years after the unique 'Twin Peaks' and follows different storylines, additionally specializing in Cooper and his investigation into Laura's murder. But no trace of Flynn Boyle.
Why Was Lara Flynn Boyle Replaced In 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me'?
Released in 1992, 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me' explores the final seven days in the lifetime of Laura Palmer.
The film was written by means of Lynch and Robert Engels and saw the return of many cast members, excluding Flynn Boyle as Donna. The persona was once performed by means of Moira Kelly.
Sherilyn Fenn, who performs the reckless, sultry Audry Horne in the collection, also selected no longer to appear in the film, and neither did Richard Beymer, who portrayed Audrey's father, hotelier Ben Horne.
At the time, Boyle's absence was put down to scheduling conflicts, in all probability with 'Wayne's World', additionally released in 1992. However, her now not being at the prequel lead to speculations that she didn't need to work together with her ex MacLachlan. The two had been together from 1990 to 1992.
Boyle Was Blamed For The 'Twin Peaks' Romance That Never Happened
In a podcast interview Fenn gave in 2017, the actress blamed a ignored storyline for her character Audrey on Boyle and MacLachlan's romance.
In the first season, Cooper books a room within the resort owned via Audrey's father, resulting in her and the FBI agent spending time in combination. Audrey also investigates her father's imaginable involvement in Laura's loss of life to win the center of Agent Cooper, of who she is infatuated. Despite their chemistry, a romance between the 2 characters used to be by no means integrated within the script.
For Fenn, this was Boyle's fault.
"So his girlfriend, Lara Flynn Boyle, kiboshes an astonishing thing… I remember saying, 'David, is this how it goes? An actor complains, because she’s the girlfriend, and then you change?'" she mentioned at the 'Twin Peaks Unwrapped' podcast.
"Now, Kyle will admit the truth. Then, he wouldn't. At the time, he was saying, 'No, [her] character is too young for me,'" Fenn persisted.
"Meanwhile he is with a girlfriend," she then mentioned of Boyle, who was 19 at the time, while Fenn used to be in her mid-20s.
In season two, 'Austin Powers' big name Heather Graham joined the show as Annie, becoming Cooper's love interest.
"And they bring in Heather, who's younger, so… whatever," Fenn commented.
So, Why Isn't Lara Flynn Boyle In 'Twin Peaks' Season Three?
As we mentioned, Boyle didn't return as Donna in the revival of 'Twin Peaks'.
While the explanation was once by no means made public, it is imaginable that her character used to be just not needed for that individual series as the nature was now not supposed to be in Twin Peaks.
In the e book by means of co-creator Frost, 'Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier', Donna moved to New York City after high school and lower ties together with her family and friends. She studied at Hunter College, however dropped out to center of attention on her modeling career. She married an older undertaking capitalist and turned into addicted to drug and alcohol.
After going lacking and being found in a crack space (an episode that may have precipitated the loss of life of her mom), Donna decides to get sober and divorce her husband. Later on, she relocated to Connecticut and then reconnected along with her father, moving in with him in Vermont and learning to transform a nurse.
Boyle On Her Audition For 'Twin Peaks'
In contemporary years, Boyle went on to star in unbiased motion pictures, together with 'Men In Black II' and, extra not too long ago, impartial productions.
When promoting her 2020 film 'Death in Texas', the actress was once asked about memorable auditions, inevitably having a look again on studying for the role of Donna in 'Twin Peaks'.
"I remember when I auditioned for 'Twin Peaks,' and I met with David Lynch and Mark Frost. I went in to read for them at Propaganda Films. David Lynch was telling me just tiny bits about what 'Twin Peaks' was about, and after he explained it, I said, 'Well, if it's about the dead girl, then why am I reading if I’m supposed to be dead?' He said, 'No, you're not reading for the dead girl.' That I remember," she advised 'The Hollywood Reporter'.
As a fourth season of 'Twin Peaks' isn't entirely off the table, no less than in accordance to Lynch, there's a small probability that Boyle may reprise the role, finally.
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