The X-Files: I Want to Believe (Chris Carter, 2008)

[denti alligator]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fans of "The X-Files" no longer have to rely on Internet rumors to seek the truth about a sequel to the 1998 movie based on the popular TV series

On Wednesday, Fox announced production will start December 10 on the sequel, which reunites the show's stars, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The studio also picked July 25 as the U.S. release date.

Series creator Chris Carter will direct the still-untitled film. Carter also co-wrote the screenplay with "X-Files" veteran Frank Spotnitz. The duo also are producing. Shooting will take place in Vancouver.

The studio is staying little about the film's story line. All that is being revealed is that it is a "supernatural thriller" and that the movie will take the complicated relationship between FBI agents Fox Mulder (Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson) in unexpected directions as Mulder continues on his quest for the truth and Scully remains inextricably tied to her partner's pursuits.

The July 25 release date would put "X-Files" up against "Step Brothers," a comedy starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, and an untitled comedy starring Ice Cube.

Fox's "X-Files" ran for nine seasons, ending in 2002. The first feature film, produced by Carter and co-written with Spotnitz, grossed $187 million worldwide.

[Highway 61]

Hell yes! I never thought this would ever be made, but now that it is, I'm going to have to worry if Carter can actually pull off a watchable film after he killed everything fun about the show.

[DrewReiber]

Wow, Fox needed a film for summer 2009 bad and their answer was to put this decade late sequel against a Will Ferrell/Adam McKay comedy in the busiest summer of the last 5 years? It's gonna be a blooooodbath.

[domino harvey]

This show's fanbase has aged so really if Fox had balls they'd let Carter make this an R.

[DrewReiber]

This show's fanbase has aged so really if Fox had balls they'd let Carter make this an R.

Judging from how the pre-release seems to put down the later episodes of the show and it's vague summary, I would expect they are doing everything in their power to make it as accessible as possible (i.e. less continuity, PG-13, et all). A ten year wait for a sequel, a fruitless 5 year wait for a continuance and Fox's rare allowance for edgy material.... this movie can't lose! HA.

[denti alligator]

so is this summer 08 or 09? I didn't quite understand from the news link.

[Jeff]

so is this summer 08 or 09? I didn't quite understand from the news link.

It's summer 2008 if it's going against the Will Ferrell movie. I think that Drew was suggesting that they should have put in 2009. Six months is an amazingly quick window from start-date to release.

[Cosmic Bus]

I'm thrilled to see Spotnitz writing this one, as he's responsible for some of my favorite episodes and was involved in many other great ones. With the other core players on board, too, and that they're going with a standalone plot, I've got fairly high hopes that this can capture the feel of a classic episode.

[DrewReiber]

I think that Drew was suggesting that they should have put in 2009. Six months is an amazingly quick window from start-date to release.

Exactly. When I first saw the July 25, 2008 release date, my eyes popped out of my head. I thought, "Surely they just switched the 9 with an 8....", but I checked the dates and July 25 is a specific date to that summer. Either this is the biggest typo in recent movie news memory or Fox has a death wish.

[Antoine Doinel]

I don't think I can remember the last time (or if ever) a studio attempted to film, promote and release a major film within eight months. And I agree that looking to release this film in the summer is a disaster waiting to happen. While Step Brothers and this film don't share the same demographic, in the battle for screen numbers, the X-Files will lose hands down. If Fox were smart, they would push the release to mid-August or early September.

[Forrest Taft]

I don't think I can remember the last time (or if ever) a studio attempted to film, promote and release a major film within eight months.

I thought War of the Worlds was shot, promoted and released within 8-9 months. Usually when a film is rushed into production they start shooting without a finished script (Gladiator, The Fugitive), or they need several editors to finish the film before its release date (The Warriors, 48 Hrs.). Lets hope that there is at least a finished script before they start shooting this one.

[Darth Lavender]

Wasn't that essentially the series' problem? (Unfinished script)
They more or less made up this complex conspiracy theory as they went along. (Unlike, say, Babylon 5, etc.)

Now if only they would actually make a MilleniuM movie. That is something I would take a rare venture to the theatre to see.

[Jeff]

I don't think I can remember the last time (or if ever) a studio attempted to film, promote and release a major film within eight months.

It can be done, but I'd imagine that it's not generally advisable. Steven Spielberg and especially Clint Eastwood are known as being incredibly fast and efficient. Million Dollar Baby was almost exactly six months from the first day of principal photography to commercial release date. Not everybody's Clint though.

[DrewReiber]

I don't think I can remember the last time (or if ever) a studio attempted to film, promote and release a major film within eight months.

Fox has been known to push it before, with X-Men (2000) being some kind of record for turning out a film. The production people said the prints were literally delivered the moment after they were created.

While Step Brothers and this film don't share the same demographic, in the battle for screen numbers, the X-Files will lose hands down.

They won't end up sharing the same demographics, but Fox expects them to have at least some (specifically the key male demo). They wouldn't be releasing this on that date and promoting this film as stand-alone unless they thought it would qualify. They're wrong, but that's their goal.

[TomReagan]

Now if only they would actually make a MilleniuM movie. That is something I would take a rare venture to the theatre to see.

Now you're talking -- as long as Agent Hollis is dropped (or minimized) and Peter Watts / Lara Means return, along with the paranoia and religious bent of the second season. However, I don't think Carter would let Morgan or Wong anywhere near his baby if a production were to commence at any level.

That said, Ms. Anderson reprising the role of Agent Scully would certainly get me to the theatre for The X-Files. Possibly more than once.

[domino harvey]

So you say you want insane casting for the X Files sequel? OK, how 'bout Amanda Peet, comedian Billy Connolly, and Xzibit?

[Antoine Doinel]

Let's hope they keep the "black guy/white guy" humor to a minimum.

[domino harvey]

I seriously can't believe I was defending this project when it was announced. Can't we just see a ninety minute movie starring Peet and Duchovny instead, because right now they're the only credible elements involved in this flick.

[Andre Jurieu]

Can't we just see a ninety minute movie starring Peet and Duchovny instead, because right now they're the only credible elements involved in this flick.

Amanda Peet is considered credible?

[domino harvey]

These rankings are relative

[Antoine Doinel]

So the new film is going to completely avoid the storyline and mythology of the series. I guess that makes sense since the writers had no idea what to do with that storyline anyway.

[Noir of the Night]

Yeah, as a fan of the series I'm glad they aren't doing a mythology movie. It worked for the first film, but after that the mythology arc really went off the rails. And some of the best episodes of the show were standalone anyway. Not that I imagine a movie could really be anything like them.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Mulder & Scully vs The Wolfman?

[domino harvey]

Oh my God, I hope Bill Cosby filmed his cameo because we're entering Leonard Part 6 levels of anticipation

[domino harvey]

Wondercon teaser
I have no idea what is happening