Twin Peaks originals Piper Laurie and Joan Chen weren't contacted by David Lynch for new series

"I’m surprised and I have no idea why I haven’t been called back"

217. That's the number of actors confirmed to appear in David Lynch's upcoming return to Twin Peaks.

While pretty much the entirety of the original cast is returning, the full list - which was released last month - had two notable omissions: Piper Laurie and Joan Chen.

The two played Catherine Martell and Josie Packard, respectively, across two seasons in 1990-1991 and only now has word on their absence been provided.

Three-time Oscar nominee Laurie told Entertainment Weekly: “I made it very clear to David and the team that I would be delighted to come back. I had a fantastic time on the original and won lots of awards. I’m surprised and I have no idea why I haven’t been called back."

“I did send a note to David... but I think most of the material that I was in on the original didn’t really involve the darker aspects of the show, and I can guess maybe that’s where David and Mark Frost are going, but I really don’t know. My character was more on the silly, comic, fun side.”

A source close to Chen - who played Laurie's on-screen sister-in-law - stated: "[Joan] was not asked to return. Lynch couldn’t find something for her or Piper Laurie that would make sense... She’s not upset about it. If she was involved, she would comment on it.”

Lara Flynn Boyle, who played Donna Hayward in the original series, is another cast member who won't be returning.

Several original actors whose characters didn't survive the original run, however, are still down to return while new cast additions include Naomi Watts, Laura Dern, and Michael Cera.

Lynch will direct and co-write all episodes of the new series which is his first project since Inland Empire (2006).

The new installment - set 25 years after the events of the original series, which centered around the inhabitants of the north-western town of Twin Peaks following the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer - will premiere on Sky Atlantic early 2017.