E! Online news
Posted: 09-November-2001 on MSN.com
"X-Files" Sequel Definitely Out There
There's a conspiracy afoot to bring back Mulder into The X-Files.
Show mastermind
Chris Carter confirms to E! Online that he is in talks with 20th Century Fox to do a sequel to 1998's X-Files movie, complete with original series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson."They've both expressed interest in doing the movie so it's really just negotiations. I've spoken to them both personally," Carter said in a phone interview.
Duchovny's return to the paranormal sci-fi franchise that launched career would definitely raise eyebrows. The actor waged a well-publicized legal battle against the series that eventually led to
his departure at the end of last season.While he's through with the television version, Duchovny has stated he'd be willing to reprise the role of Fox "Spooky" Mulder for X-Files movies.
Same goes for the 33-year-old Anderson, who has said she she intends to
exit the show at the end of the upcoming season to spend more time with her daughter, Piper.Of course, reuniting the FBI agents might take some 'splaining, especially since Mulder's going to be MIA from the series. Daily Variety says the new X-Files film would likely depart from the aliens-among-us mythology laid down during the show's nine seasons and instead center on an unrelated, stand-alone mystery.
Carter, however, envisions the sequel as an extension of the TV series, just like the first film, taking its cues from the continuing saga in hopes of keeping X-Philes interested in the tube version.
"It's important that somehow the movie excite the fans for more of the series," he said. "This season we are dealing with the Mulder story and hopefully we'll be at a place by the end...where it might platform the next movie."
Carter also says that while it's still too early, he could see some of the X-Files most recent additions, such as actor
Robert Patrick (who joined the cast last season as hard-headed Agent John Doggett) and Annabeth Gish (Special Agent Monica Reyes), possibly popping up in a future film. Carter has said he sees The X-Files as a potential film franchise, à la Star Trek.Of course, work on the sequel can't begin until the studio green-lights the project--and that all depends on the script. Carter is expected to hatch the latest X-File with series vet (and cowriter of the first film) Frank Spotnitz over the next several months. If all goes as planned, production on the sequel could get started in late 2002 for a targeted release in December 2003, according to Variety. No word yet whether director Rob Bowman will be back behind the camera.
A sequel would seem like a no-brainer for Fox. The original film grossed a solid $84 million domestically and did well on video. Overall, The X-Files has earned the studio more than $1 billion.
But until Mulder and Scully reunite on celluloid, X-Philes will have to make do with a new crop of recruits, including
Cary Elwes as FBI Assistant Director Brad Follmer and ex-Xena Lucy Lawless, who turns up on the season premiere in what could become a recurring role as a mysterious woman from Doggett's past.The ninth season of The X-Files kicks off Sunday on Fox. For those fans feeling nostalgic, Fox is also releasing a box set of the show's fourth season (seasons one-three are already available) next Tuesday.