'Twin Peaks' coming to Showtime as limited series in 2016

"Twin Peaks" -- one of the strangest, most beguiling series in TV history -- will return to television in 2016, as an original limited series production on Showtime. And yes, David Lynch, along with Mark Frost (the original showrunners) are writing, while Lynch will direct.

Here's the top of the news release, with key details:

Series creators and executive producers David Lynch and Mark Frost are on board to write and produce all nine episodes of the limited series. Four-time Oscar® nominee David Lynch will direct every episode. TWIN PEAKS will go into production in 2015 to air on the network in 2016, marking the 25th anniversary of when the program last aired. Set in the present day, TWIN PEAKS will continue the lore of the original series, providing long-awaited answers for the series’ passionate fan base. The announcement was made today by David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks Inc. “What more can I say – TWIN PEAKS with David Lynch and Mark Frost on Showtime in 2016!” said Nevins. “To quote Agent Cooper, ‘I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.’” Lynch and Frost added: “The mysterious and special world of Twin Peaks is pulling us back. We’re very excited. May the forest be with you.”

"Peaks," which aired for only two seasons on ABC in 1990 and 1991, was a blazing comet indeed: One of the most talked about series in TV history, and one of the most baffling, for viewers, that is. "Who Killed Laura Palmer?" became one of those nutty catchphrases of the entire decade, right up there with "where's the beef?" (or, umm, was that the '80s?)

It also anticipated a whole new wave of television creativity - unbound by all those commercial restraints (and constraints) that had turned primetime into a land of plain vanilla cop procedurals and the like. Put another way, could there have been a "Lost" if there had never been a "Twin Peaks?" And of course, a whole new generation has loved it and puzzled over it, thanks to Netflix, where it continues to stream. Word of a Lynch/Frost remake has been hinted (by Lynch) for quite some time now. But Showtime is a bit of a surprise.

Already, sight unseen, this will be the most talked about series on TV in 2016. Take that, HBO...

Meanwhile, Frost - in an interview just posted on TVLine.com - was asked about casting (no details released by Showtime earlier) or whether some of the original castmembers would return. His answer: "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."

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