David Lynch vows to “never retire” despite emphysema diagnosis
After David Lynch shared the news of his emphysema diagnosis on August 5th, many assumed the director had been forced into retirement. Now, Lynch has clarified the state of his condition and provided a statement on social media that suggests he will “never retire.”
Lynch recently announced that he had been diagnosed with emphysema, a condition where air sacs in the lungs are damaged causing symptoms such as shortness of breath. In order to protect himself from contracting a cold, which would complicate his well-being, Lynch has been homebound.
Speaking with Sight and Sound, the director revealed that he can only walk a “short distance” before running “out of oxygen.” Lynch stated that he would only be open to directing from home, though he admitted that he “wouldn’t like that so much.” Now, in a follow-up statement shared on Lynch’s social media, the director revealed that this doesn’t mean he is planning on retiring.
“Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking,” Lynch began, “I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them – but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema.”
The Twin Peaks creator explained that he decided to quit smoking over two years ago, and that recent tests have shown that he is in “excellent shape” apart from the emphysema. “I am filled with happiness,” Lynch stated, “and I will never retire.”
To close his statement, the director shared his thanks to fans for sharing their support. “I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern,” he concluded.
Lynch did not provide further clarification on his plans to continue working. Given his apparent hesitance to direct from home, perhaps he is referring to continuing his ventures into music or visual art. The director recently unveiled his third collaborative album with singer Chrystabell, a collection of misty mood music that is undeniably Lynchian.
It has been almost two decades since Lynch directed his last feature film, Inland Empire, in 2006. Since then, the director has directed a number of short films and helmed Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017, but he is yet to deliver another full-length feature.
Lynch did pen a screenplay for a project titled Antelope Don’t Run No More, though he failed to finance the film. His fairytale film Snootworld was also rejected by Netflix last year, which Lynch attributed to the genre of choice.
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