Ted Sarandos, CEO of Netflix, recently shared a heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away on January 15 at the age of 78. Sarandos revealed that Lynch had been working on a limited series for Netflix before his death.
Reflecting on their long-standing connection, Sarandos recalled their first meeting when Lynch had shown an early cut of Mulholland Drive to him. Years later, Lynch pitched the idea of a limited series to Netflix. Sarandos described the project as a “David Lynch production” full of mystery and risks, adding that Netflix was eager to collaborate with the visionary director. However, due to the pandemic and Lynch’s health concerns, the project was never realized. Despite these setbacks, Netflix remained committed to the project, ready to proceed whenever Lynch was able.
Sarandos praised Lynch’s career, calling it “remarkable, visionary, bold, and artful,” and expressed his curiosity about what Lynch had envisioned for the series. He shared how their early connection began when Netflix, still operating as a DVD rental service, struck a deal to bulk buy Eraserhead. This partnership later led to Lynch directing the short film What Did Jack Do? for Netflix.
Sarandos concluded his tribute by highlighting Lynch’s unapologetic genius, noting that the director’s work was meant to be felt rather than understood. “He knew it was impossible to understand his work, and that was part of the ride,” Sarandos said, underscoring Lynch’s unique artistic vision.
