David Lynch, the renowned filmmaker and co-creator of the cult classic TV series “Twin Peaks,” revealed in a recent interview with Sight and Sound magazine that he has been diagnosed with emphysema. This condition has left him homebound and unable to pursue new directing projects due to the increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Lynch, who is 78 years old, described how his emphysema, caused by prolonged smoking, restricts him to walking only short distances before he becomes breathless. This makes the physical demands of directing nearly impossible. "I've gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not. It would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold," he said.

Emphysema, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is incurable and leads to difficulty in breathing and mobility. Treatments typically involve quitting smoking, using bronchodilators and corticosteroids, oxygen therapy, and antibiotics for infections. In severe cases, surgery or lung transplants may be considered, although not all patients qualify for these procedures.

Lynch reflected on his love for smoking and its eventual toll on his health. "Smoking was something that I absolutely loved, but in the end, it bit me. It was part of the art life for me... Meanwhile, it’s killing me. So I had to quit."

This diagnosis has put a halt to Lynch's illustrious career. His groundbreaking work on “Twin Peaks” significantly influenced the modern sci-fi mystery genre. He earned Academy Award nominations for Best Director for three of his films: “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986), and “Mulholland Drive” (2001). Lynch also directed the 1984 version of “Dune,” although he later disavowed the film. His collaborations often included actors like Laura Dern, Kyle MacLachlan, and the late Jack Nance.

Lynch's last feature film was “Inland Empire” (2006), starring Dern. He later revisited the “Twin Peaks” universe with the 2017 Showtime series “Twin Peaks: The Return,” featuring MacLachlan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lynch turned to painting and music, leading to a collaborative album with Chrystabell, who portrayed agent Tamara Preston in the 2017 “Twin Peaks” reboot.

Despite his current health challenges, Lynch expressed hope for future directing projects, potentially done remotely. He mentioned a screenplay from 2010, "Antelope Don’t Run No More," which he hopes to bring to the screen, though its future remains uncertain. "We don’t know what the future will bring," he said.