Mind-boggling though the reveal of Showtime’s 217-strong Twin Peaks revival cast list proved to be, fans couldn’t help zero in on those among the original series absent from the returning cast. Now, alum from Joan Chen, to Heather Graham to the backwards-speaking Michael J. Anderson explain their absence, deepening the mystery.

Entertainment Weekly caught up with both Twin Peaks alum Piper Laurie (Catherine Martell) and Joan Chen (Josie), the former of whom expressed surprise at David Lynch not inviting her to return, despite opining her willingness, speculating that Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost were aiming darker than her character usually allowed. As for Chen, whose Josie was last bizarrely relegated to imprisonment within the handle of a desk drawer, Chen reps offered a tenuous explanation:

She was not asked to return. Lynch couldn’t find something for her or Piper Laurie that would make sense. 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.

The report also notes that Heather Graham declined to comment on the absence of Annie Blackburn, while memorable backwards-speaking “Man From Another Place” portrayer Michael J .Anderson was “not doing interviews for the foreseeable future.” In the meantime, new cast includes the likes of Monica Bellucci, Michael Cera, Tim Roth, Ghostbusters alum Ernie Hudson, Walking Dead star Josh McDermitt, and musicians like Trent Reznor and Eddie Vedder, while the full listing might strain your eyes:

Showtime Twin Peaks Cast List
Showtime
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David Lynch and Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost have now completed principal photography, with Lynch confirmed to have directed all episodes of the revival series, however many that turns out to be.

Twin Peaks composer Angelo Badalamenti’s return is also set, alongside stars Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Sheryl Lee, Michael Horse, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, David Patrick Kelly, Richard Beymer and fellow new additions Ashley Judd, James Belushi, Naomi Watts, Tom Sizemore, Laura Dern, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Robert Forster, Peter Sarsgaard, Robert Knepper, Amanda Seyfried and Balthazar Getty.

The original Twin Peaks saw Agent Dale Cooper arriving in the titular town to investigate the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer, only to find the mystery ran far deeper than he could ever expect, with a touch of the supernatural. The new iteration will pick up 25 years after the Season 2 finale in 1991, which saw MacLachlan’s Agent Cooper in a Black Lodge limbo.

Showtime may come forth with additional Twin Peaks details for 2017 soon, but what do we make of omissions to the massive cast?

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