EDIT: Since we first published this article, David Lynch has announced his return to the project.
We take a look at the highs and lows of Twin Peaks' history.

Twin Peaks' 2016 resurrection was thrown into serious doubt, ironically on Easter Sunday, after David Lynch revealed he was walking away from the project. Over a series of tweets, co-creator Lynch confirmed fears that had been festering for a number weeks.

TV network Showtime, apparently caught unaware by the sudden turn of events, hastily released a statement suggesting they're still trying to negotiate with Lynch over his budgetary demands:

'We were saddened to read David Lynch’s statement today since we believed we were working towards solutions with David and his reps on the few remaining deal points. Showtime also loves the world of Twin Peaks and we continue to hold out hope that we can bring it back in all its glory with both of its extraordinary creators, David Lynch and Mark Frost, at its helm.'

Should this be the end of Lynch's involvement, it got us wondering: seen as he and co-creator Mark Frost have already written the scripts for the nine new episodes, who else do we think could step behind the camera and deliver something in the spirit of original series suitable for a TV audience in 2016? So here's our five favourite picks for you to hate on …

Mark Frost
With Lynch so indelibly wrapped up in Twin Peaks, it's easy to forget the importance of co-creator Mark Frost. Frost wrote many of the original episodes and directed the season one finale, a cracking piece of work notable for throwing most of the town's residents into some sort of peril. Although Frost has only directed once since (James Spader mystery Storyville), this could be his chance to take a proper share of the limelight.

Darren Aronofsky
Duality is an important aspect of Twin Peaks' mythos, something Aronofsky explored in Black Swan and and the greatly misunderstood The Fountain. Requiem for a Dream demonstrates he has the ability to handle the darkest of subjects. But Aronofsky is also a filmmaker whose auteur cache has transcended indie film, taking arthouse projects into the mainstream conciousness, see multi-Academy Award nominees The Wrestler and Black Swan.

Richard Kelly
Kelly was feted as the spiritual successor to Lynch following the critically-acclaimed release of his debut cult hit Donnie Darko but follow-up films Southland Tales and The Box suggest he's a one-hit wonder. Could this be his chance to turn around his fortunes?

Damon Lindelof
Bear with us on this one. Lost co-creator Lindelof has already spoken about the huge influence Twin Peaks had on his own career, he's not directed before but he has substantial experience writing and producing genre TV and film, so we see him more as someone who could showrun the series. Lindelof's name still provokes fierce irk following the controversial Lost finale and his involvement in the divisive Prometheus, however, the showrunner's latest effort The Leftovers, has helped rehabilitate his reputation and is perhaps his most Twin Peaksian work yet.

Denis Villeneuve
This might just be the ace in the hole, French-Canadian auteur Villeneuve is arguably the most Lynchian of our selection. The director of devastating mystery Incendies, confounding but excellent suburban nightmare Prisoners, and ultra weird mind-bender Enemy, has all the tools in the box for delivering a Twins Peaks continuation that would ignite the fanbase. Considering he's just taken over the Blade Runner sequel the chances of this dream scenario happening are pretty much zero. Not that we're dealing in reality here …