Twin Peaks

Variant versions and video releases

The pilot episode, first screened on TV in the US, was also released theatrically in Europe as a stand-alone story. The European version is 20 minutes longer than the TV pilot with a different ending added to bring closure to the story (see below the spoiler warning for details). Much of this additional footage was incorporated into the second episode of the regular series -- that is, the third episode shown in the U.S. including the Pilot.

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After the TV series ended, Lynch made a prequel movie, Fire Walk With Me, co-written with Robert Engels (a writer from the series).

Related Topics:
Prequel - Fire Walk With Me - Robert Engels

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In September 2002, the first season (episodes 1-7) of Twin Peaks was released as a DVD box set. The box set was noted for being the first TV show to have its audio track redone in DTS. The set was heavily criticized for not including the key pilot episode, which could not be included due to the fact Lynch sold the rights to it to another company in order to facilitate its release theatrically. The pilot episode is included in the box set released in Europe, but as of late 2004 it is not yet known whether the televised version of the pilot (which ties in with the rest of the series) will ever be released to DVD in North America, or if the version released there will be the theatrical version.

Related Topics:
September - 2002 - DVD - DTS - Pilot episode - Europe - 2004

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The second season is due to be released worldwide by Paramount. It has so far been postponed three times, from September 2004, to early 2005, to September 2005, to early 2006, which is the date at present--this is due to the fact that Republic Pictures, the successor-in-interest to Worldvision Enterprises (the series' former distributor) and which currently holds ancilliary rights in the U.S., was sold in 1998 to Paramount/Viacom, but the video rights are now in transition (the first season was released to DVD on Artisan Entertainment, the video licensee for Republic)--Artisan/Lions Gate's rights expire in September of 2005, after which Paramount will assume all rights to Twin Peaks, thus opening the door for a Season Two release on DVD. Domestic rights to the ' film are owned by Time Warner's New Line Cinema division, and is available on video and DVD through New Line.

Related Topics:
Republic Pictures - Paramount - Viacom - Artisan Entertainment - Lions Gate - Time Warner - New Line Cinema

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The European version of the pilot film wraps up the story by showing Mike, the one-armed man, shooting Bob who admits to the murder. Most of the supernatural aspects of the story are toned down or eliminated. The scene in the Red Room where Cooper visits the Little Man From Another Place and his cousin who looks exactly like Laura Palmer was originally shot for this film. Lynch was so happy with the material that he incorporated it into the series as a dream Cooper has about the case.

Related Topics:
Mike, the one-armed man - Bob

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