Steven Spielberg casts David Lynch in The Fabelmans

By Blair Marnell Published February 4, 2022

For the first time ever, directors Steven Spielberg and David Lynch are going to collaborate. It’s just not happening in the way that anyone expected. Variety is reporting that Lynch has been cast in a role for Spielberg’s upcoming film The Fabelmans. Details about Lynch’s part were not disclosed in the story.

Lynch is best known as a director of critically acclaimed films including Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, The Straight Story, Wild At Heart, and Lost Highway. He is also the co-creator of Twin Peaks, a wildly popular cult series from the 1990s that was revived by Showtime in 2017 as Twin Peaks: The Return.

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While famous for his work behind the camera, Lynch has been known to occasionally perform on camera as well. In both incarnations of Twin Peaks, Lynch portrayed FBI agent Gordon Cole. He also lent his voice to The Cleveland Show and Family Guy, and guest-starred in FX’s Louie. Lynch also had a supporting role in John Carroll Lynch’s feature film Lucky.

David Lynch in Twin Peaks: The Return. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Spielberg co-wrote the script for The Fabelmans with Tony Kushner (Angels in America), and it is a semiautobiographical story inspired by Spielberg’s youth in Arizona. Spielberg is also directing the film, which will be his first project after his recent West Side Story remake, which was a hit with critics (and less so with audiences).

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Gabriel LaBelle is playing the leading role in The Fabelmans, alongside Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Julia Butters, Judd Hirsch, Sam Rechner, Oakes Fegley, Chloe East, Jeannie Berlin, Robin Bartlett, Jonathan Hadary, and Isabelle Kusman.

Universal Pictures is expected to release The Fabelmans in November of this year.

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Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…

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Steven Spielberg is an undisputed master of cinema. He has directed many movies throughout his life, and while he has had failures with some of them (we're looking at you, Always), many of his films are now considered to be some of the greatest of all time.

With a filmography including sci-fi blockbusters, serious historical dramas, and globe-trotting adventures, Spielberg made his mark on multiple genres and showed his skills as a diverse storyteller. Spielberg has now directed 36 feature-length films, with the autobiographical The Fabelmans the latest in a long line of hits. The movies below have been ranked the best of the filmmaker's illustrious career.
10. Bridge of Spies (2015) - 91%