More than 27 years after it originally went to air, the polarising but much-anticipated TV series Twin Peaks returns to screens today.
The new series of the cult show screens on New Zealand's Sky SoHo at 8.30 tonight, shortly after it debuts in the US.
David Lynch, left, and actor Kyle MacLachlan attending the 'Twin Peaks' premiere in Los Angeles over the weekend. Photo: AFP
The surreal, camp and often terrifying show had a two season-run on US network ABC, beginning in April 1990.
It told the story of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, played by Kyle MacLachlan, as he arrived in the small Washington lumber town Twin Peaks to investigate the strange and supernatural circumstances of the murder of teen homecoming-queen Laura Palmer.
Created by David Lynch - who has made a number of equally critically acclaimed but divisive films - including Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead and Blue Velvet - the show received 14 Emmy nominations but its popularity fell in its second season as the storylines became more labyrinthine.
The show was not picked up for a third season, leaving its notorious season-two cliffhanger unresolved.
Film and television magazine Empire lists the show as the 24th best series of all time.
Ahead of the new series' debut on US's Showtime at 9pm today (local time, 1pm New Zealand time), the cast and creators have closely guarded the details of the new season.
Guests and reporters at the Los Angeles premiere on Friday night were urged not to reveal any of the plot details of the first two episodes they saw.
MacLachlan, who reprises his role as Cooper, told Reuters, "I can't say much but we do drink coffee and it is damn good. And we do have cherry pie."
The pie and brew took on cult status in the original showing.
Co-creator Mark Frost said the new 18-part season "had to be in its own way, as startling and different and arresting as it was the first time."
"This was not an exercise in nostalgia, this was an attempt to move the ball forward both narratively and cinematically," he said.
Numerous original cast members reprised their roles, such as Sheryl Lee as Palmer, Madchen Amick as Shelly Johnson and Dana Ashbrook as Bobby Briggs.
New additions include Naomi Watts, Laura Dern, Tim Roth, Trent Reznor and Amanda Seyfried.
-BBC / Reuters / RNZ
