Why Joan Chen, Piper Laurie won't return to "Twin Peaks"
Out of the 217 cast members of the upcoming "Twin Peaks" reboot, two are notably missing: Joan Chen and Piper Laurie.
Though Lara Flynn Boyle opted not to return to "Twin Peaks," Chen and Laurie were reportedly open to coming back to the show -- but it appears that there simply wasn't room for their storyline. The two played at-odds sisters-in-law Josie Packard and Catherine Martell, respectively.
Laurie told Entertainment Weekly that she was very keen on returning to the show.
"I made it very clear to David and the team that I would be delighted to come back. I had a fantastic time on the original and won lots of awards. I'm surprised and I have no idea why I haven't been called back," she said. "I did send a note to David that I would be delighted to return, but I think most of the material that I was in on the original didn't really involve the darker aspects of the show, and I can guess maybe that's where David and Mark Frost are going, but I really don't know. My character was more on the silly, comic, fun side."
David Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost reportedly tried to find a way to incorporate the character of Josie into the reboot, but failed to find a good fit.
"[Chen] was not asked to return. Lynch couldn't find something for her or Piper Laurie that would make sense," a source told Entertainment Weekly. "They had conversations, but couldn't find a way for her to return ... She's not upset about it. If she was involved, she would comment on it."
Both Showtime and Lynch would not comment on the show's cast. Other absences from the reboot include Heather Graham and Michael J. Anderson.
Laurie made it clear that she is not bitter about not reprising her role.
"Of course I'll watch [the new episodes]," she said. "I think David will go to new territory. He's very adventurous, and he has a good mind. I've got no reason to think why it won't be a great success."
