David Lynch says he has emphysema, may not direct again

American filmmaker David Lynch says he has been diagnosed with emphysema, a lung disease caused by smoking with no known cure.

The creator of Twin Peaks said he quit smoking two years ago. He took to social media on Tuesday morning (AEST) to tell followers that he had no plans to retire, despite the diagnosis and its crippling effect on his health.

News of his illness broke overnight after an interview he gave to the British magazine Sight and Sound, in which he revealed that his condition leaves him only able to walk short distances before running out of breath, making directing nearly impossible.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” he later wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. 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.

“I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire.”

Lynch, 78, whose work includes Eraserhead and The Elephant Man, had told the magazine he was now “homebound”, as he is afraid of contracting COVID-19, which would threaten his health further.

He said that while he may never direct in person again, he could possibly direct remotely. “I would really hate that,” he added.

In 2017, Lynch told this masthead that his 2006 release, Inland Empire – about an actress auditioning for a comeback role – was likely to be his last feature film.