Rossellini's History of Pets Series: Lynch, Redford Talks

Isabella Rossellini is turning her lens to the animal kingdom once more, with the actress confirming she is developing a new series of short films exploring the history of pets. The project, which she described during a recent career retrospective conversation, marks another chapter in her ongoing fascination with the natural world and its intersection with human culture. Rossellini, celebrated for her transformative roles in cinema, is best known to mainstream audiences for her iconic performance in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet, a film that remains a touchstone of her legacy.

The upcoming shorts series, which she pitched as a continuation of her earlier environmental and biological storytelling efforts, will delve into how domesticated animals have evolved alongside human civilization. Rossellini did not specify a timeline for production or release, nor did she reveal any distribution partners, but her enthusiasm for the subject was palpable. “We’ve only scratched the surface of our relationship with the creatures we invite into our homes,” she said, adding that the format of short, digestible episodes allows for the kind of quirky, educational content she has grown to love creating.

This is not Rossellini’s first foray into animal-focused filmmaking. In the late 2000s and 2010s, she produced and starred in a series of acclaimed shorts under the Green Porno banner, which used theatrical, often humorous recreations to illustrate the mating habits of insects and marine life. That series, which ran on the Sundance Channel and later appeared at film festivals, won her a cult following for its blend of science and avant-garde sensibility. The new pet project appears to build on that foundation, shifting from wild species to the animals that share our daily lives, from dogs and cats to more unexpected household companions.

During the same conversation, Rossellini reflected on her working relationship with David Lynch, the visionary director who cast her in Blue Velvet in 1986. The role of Dorothy Vallens, a nightclub singer trapped in a violent relationship, launched her into international stardom and cemented her as a muse of the American surrealist movement. Rossellini spoke warmly of Lynch, describing him as a director who trusted actors to find their own emotional truth rather than forcing a rigid interpretation. “David doesn’t explain things to you in normal terms,” she recalled. “He creates an atmosphere, a physical space, and then he lets you live inside it. The result is that you feel everything more intensely, even when you don’t fully understand what is happening.”

She also touched on her experience working with Robert Redford, another towering figure in American film. While she did not provide specific details about a particular project, she credited Redford with a collaborative spirit and a deep respect for storytelling as an art form. Rossellini’s career has long been defined by such collaborations, spanning the arthouse circuit, mainstream Hollywood, and even experimental television. Her ability to move between these worlds has made her a rare figure in the industry, equally at home in a Lynchian nightmare as in a Redford-directed drama.

Beyond her acting, Rossellini has carved out a distinctive path as a writer and producer, often working in short-form media that allows her to pursue curiosities that might not fit traditional feature structures. The history of pets series, she explained, is a natural extension of that instinct. She sees it as a way to examine not just the biology of domestication but the emotional bonds that have shaped both animals and people over thousands of years. “Pets are a mirror,” she noted. “We have changed them, but they have also changed us, in ways we are only beginning to understand.”

The actress, now in her early seventies, shows no signs of slowing down. In addition to the pets project, she continues to appear in film and television, balancing high-profile roles with her passion projects. Her recent work has included appearances in European productions and independent features, alongside her ongoing advocacy for environmental causes. Rossellini is also a published author and has frequently collaborated with her daughter, Elettra Wiedemann, on initiatives that blend fashion, science, and sustainability.

For fans of her career, the announcement of the new series offers another glimpse into the restless curiosity that has defined her public life. Unlike many actors who retreat from the spotlight as they age, Rossellini has embraced the opportunities that digital platforms and short-form content provide. She views the format as a challenge rather than a limitation, a chance to tell stories with economy and precision. “In a short film, every image has to carry weight,” she said. “That constraint is liberating in its own way.”

As of this writing, no network or streaming service has picked up the history of pets shorts, and Rossellini declined to name any potential partners. She did, however, hint that the project is in active development, with scripts and research already underway. Whether it lands on a major platform or finds a home in the festival circuit, the series promises to carry Rossellini’s unmistakable voice - one that has always found wonder in the strange, the small, and the surprisingly profound.

Source: Hollywood Reporter