This just in off the AP: This summer's X-Files flick has finally been given a proper title. Wanna know what it is? Of course you do -- it shall be known as The X-Files: I Want to Believe. 20th Century Fox signed off on the title today, and that's what they're going with. Fans of the television series will recognize the slogan 'I Want to Believe' from a poster Mulder (David Duchovny) had hanging in his basement office where he and Scully (Gillian Anderson) worked.

On the title, director Chris Carter said, "It's a natural title. It's a story that involves the difficulties in mediating faith and science. `I Want to Believe.' It really does suggest Mulder's struggle with his faith." It's an appropriate title on many different levels; ever since the show went off the air, fans wanted to believe it would make a comeback on the big screen. And it did. The first film came and went, and since then fans have wanted to believe that Mulder and Scully would one day reunite -- either on the small or big screen. That day will finally come on July 25th, when The X-Files: I Want to Believe arrives in theaters.

What do you think of the new title? Speak ya mind folks -- speak it!

The National Post ran a story today about the press conference the X-Files cast and crew held on Wednesday. (Minus Gillian Anderson, who seems to be practically absent from this whole circus in general.) The cast and crew thanked Vancouver and revealed that those photos of Mulder and Scully kissing were fake.

"We staged that," David Duchovny told reporters. The article mentions the photo causing "breathless speculation about the characters' are-they-or-aren't-they romance" which makes me wonder what sites they visited. Only the most diehard sites could be breathless about it -- and only fans who completely forgot the whole offspring element.

Director Chris Carter complained about the attention focused on the production. "It's been a two-way street. To tell you the truth, I would like to make the movie secretly and put it out there on July 25, have everybody get a gift they could open." Is that why your movie still doesn't have a title?

Oh, X-Files. There was a time in say, 1996, when the sight of these photos would have sent me racing to the official X-Phile board, logging in under my screen name IMScully33 (and yes, if you see it in the AICN Talkbacks -- that is me), and engaging in excited speculation.

Now I can only rouse a mild interest in these spy photos, courtesy of Flynet Online and fresh from the set of The Untitled X-Files Sequel. It's my duty to warn you of spoilers (although I pretty much gave it away in that title) but I have to say. . .is this really a spoiler? Didn't Mulder and Scully have sex off-screen and produce a child, thus rendering this pretty unexciting?

The time for them to kiss was back in X-Files: Fight the Future -- and you let us down, Chris Carter. Stop trying to make up for that off screen consummation!

This truly causes me pain. It brings to mind my blissfully misspent youth, which I spent pondering aliens, conspiracy theories, and buying all those episode guides. I was even a Scully lookalike at the tender age of 17. (I even appeared in an issue of The Official X-Files Magazine. I was that good.) In so many ways, The X-Files helped make me the geek I am today -- and also the bitter cynic who sits snarking on this post now. I want it to be 1996 again so I'm actually excited by the release of a second X-Files movie, and sighing over the possibility that two brilliant and lonely FBI Agents will get together.

I shouldn't be surprised that X-Files fans are back to their old tricks again and scrutinizing every little detail they can get their hands on when it comes to the sequel. X-Files News is reporting that Mitch Pileggi, aka Walter Skinner, will be reviving his character for Untitled X Files Sequel. They really are going to have to come up with a title one of these days, by the way. According to the site, they are in possession of a schedule with Pileggi named in the worksheet for the day's shoot.

Pileggi starred on the TV series as Assistant Director Skinner, a former Marine and Vietnam vet. Skinner was the direct supervisor of the paranormally inclined FBI Agents, Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny). The character started off with ambiguous allegiances, but as the story wore on, Skinner clearly became one of the good guys.

I'll just come right out and say it: I think werewolves are dumb. They could be interesting, and I'm sure they once were, but for me they're typically a let down, whether they be the lame werewolves in Wes Craven's Cursed or the badly generated werewolf transformation in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban or even the blood-splattering werewolves of a well-written horror film like Dog Soldiers. Maybe it's because the first werewolves I was familiar with growing up were Michael Jackson in the "Thriller" video and Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf, but whatever the reason, the fact remains that I don't think they're scary and I don't think they're cool.

So, you can imagine how disappointed I was to see JoBlo's new spy shots from the set of "X-Files: Done One" (aka X-Files 2), which feature what looks to be a werewolf mask. I guess there's a chance that thing in the photos could simply be a wolf -- not of the 'were' variety -- and that would be OK. But seeing as this is the paranormal world of X-Files, I'm betting on my first thought being correct.

For other fans of the show, these photos are probably pretty exciting. They're certainly a lot more interesting than that first pic we saw last month, and more intriguing than these simple photos and video of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson from FlynetOnline or these more official shots from ComingSoon.net. Also, with all the secrecy surrounding the plot of the sequel, these photos allow us to speculate a great many things while we wait to hear about the actual plot synopsis. Perhaps one of those new cast members, say Xzibit or Billy Connolly or Amanda Peet turns into a werewolf. Wouldn't that be super neat? Yeah, well you already know I think it would be boring, but I'm trying to be excited for the rest of you.

Which did you like better: the alien mythology or the stand alone scares? USA Today is raising the question in light of their first look at the long-awaited, still officially untitled sequel to The X Files. Reportedly, the film "will dump the long-running 'mythology' plotline" -- you remember, "that aliens live among us and are part of a colonizing effort." Creator Chris Carter doesn't want any part of a mythology "conspiracy," since he feels that all those threads got tied up with the conclusion of the TV series in 2002.

I was a huge fan of the early seasons, in which there was more tension between David Duchovny as true believer Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson as skeptical scientist Dana Scully. The stand alone episodes, which required only the barest foreknowledge to enjoy, were highly dependent on the stories from week to week, of course, but I thought the early years had a very good batting average, and Duchovy and Anderson consistently delivered good performances.

The alien mythology conspiracy was initially intriguing, yet over time became too convoluted for me to follow. In some ways, the show appeared to be influenced by Twin Peaks, with its mysterious, off beat tone and Northwestern atmosphere and settings; in other ways, The X Files presaged episodic science fiction puzzlers like Lost.

My main concern right now is Carter's comment about his desire to introduce The X Files to a whole new audience: "There were kids who couldn't watch it on TV because it was too scary. Now they're in college. I wanted a movie that everyone could go to." That scary, unnerving quality was one of the hallmarks of the show, and a big reason why many of us tuned in. I hope Carter has managed to twist things without draining away its appeal for thinking adults. For more on the sequel, check our past stories on surprising cast additions, the first set photo, and even more casting news.

He might have been born in the UK, but Callum Keith Rennie grew up in Alberta and has become that guy you see everywhere. It helps that in the 14 years of his career, he's been involved in 92 projects -- some of them being very brief guest stints, or recurring roles, starring roles, and major motion pictures. He's the "I know that guy!" actor who is just everywhere. Perhaps you remember him from eXistenZ, Memento, Falling Angels, or Blade Trinity. But if you're a big space geek, you definitely know him as the dastardly Leoben Conoy on Battlestar Gallactica. And if you have a thing for aliens on Earth, then you might remember him from a certain spooky show.

Variety reports that he has signed on to co-star with a certain David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in the upcoming X-Files 2. Now, he's no stranger to the show -- he originally appeared as The Groundskeeper in the highest-rated episode of the first two seasons -- "Fresh Bones." But the thing is, he almost had himself a regular gig. He was first offered the role of Alex Krycek. He turned it down, and suggested Nicolas Lea take the job. So now he's "co-starring," but there's no word on who he'll be. Will he take the role he once refused? (In a ghostly form, again.) Something all-new perhaps?

Joining him on the co-starring roster is British actor Adam Godley, who has popped up in films like Love Actually, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and most recently in Elizabeth: The Golden Age as William Walsingham. Again, there's no word on who these actors will be, but hopefully we'll find out soon.

OK, so this might be nit-picking, but would it have killed someone to make sure that the first set photo released from X-Files 2 was a picture of Agents Mulder and Scully? ComingSoon.net has received the first image from the set and let's just say if you were never that into the show, then this picture is not going to do much for you. But if like me, you were more than a little obsessed with the original TV series that ran for almost ten years, then it's time to let your inner fan-boy run wild. This first photo was taken on location in Vancouver, shows stars David Duchovny and Amanda Peet on set, but other than that, there isn't really much to say. Although, it's nice to see trench coats are making a comeback again.

Starring Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents Mulder and Scully, the story has been kept tightly under wraps, although there were some false alarms a little while back. It was only last week that casting had been finalized, so I guess that director/creator Chris Carter wasn't wasting any time and put Peet right to work. X-Files was possibly one of the most popular TV series of all time, but the first feature film back in 1998 never managed to spark a franchise. When news of the sequel became official, it wasn't that fans weren't happy to have everyone back; it's just that I think we all just wondered what took them so long. X-Files 2 is set for release on July 25th, 2008.

The Hollywood Reporter announced that Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, and Xzibit have all joined the cast of X-Files 2. Details are pretty sketchy as to who Scottish comedian Connolly will play, but THR did confirm that Xzibit (the 'Pimper of Rides') and Peet would be playing fellow FBI agents alongside our friends Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson). Peet has just signed to star in the drama, Real Men Cry with Mark Ruffalo, but it looks like X-Files might come first now that the production looks to be ready to go. Xzibit had also originally been signed to star in Oliver Stone's Pinkville, but when that film was stalled because of the writer's strike, I guess it freed up some time in the rapper/actor/TV host's schedule.

I'd be willing to guess that most fans of the show were pretty surprised when word of a sequel started making the rounds again. When official word finally hit, the fan in me was thrilled and a little curious as to how they were going to make a stand-alone story. Luckily, Chris Carter and series vet Frank Spotnitz wrote the screenplay. Filming is set to begin in Vancouver later this month, and the production is also currently casting in Canada. Although, there is still no confirmation on whether Lance Henriksen (Frank Black in Carter's other series; Millenium) will be making an appearance.

Just last week, Christopher brought us some script details that had been leaked. But, some of the details were later discounted by Carter, who said that he was using old character and plot to try and keep his casting process as secret as possible up until the last minute. I hope all the secrecy is worth it, because I can't see the addition of Xzibit and Billy Connolly as something worth this much security. X-Files 2 is set for release on July 25th, 2008.

It's been so long since I last saw an X-Files episode that I haven't the tiniest recollection of how the series ended. So, it isn't surprising that I'm a little confused about the plot of the upcoming X-Files movie sequel/series spin-off. The guys at Moviehole have the scoop on some heavily spoilerific details on at least the first half hour of the untitled XF2*. Apparently it involves more aliens, a "Frankenstein-type" doctor, body snatchers, missing persons and a hostage situation being investigated by some new FBI agents we've never met before, including one who might serve the bureau as the "new Mulder". There's also another main agent character that might be played by Lance Henriksen, despite the fact that the actor has previously been on the show as his Millennium character, Frank Black. According to Moviehole, there's no sign of Mulder and Scully in the first-act synopsis given to them by "a little green man," which would certainly be a problem were it to be true.

Imagine an X-Files movie without David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Or, even one that didn't feature them prominently. Obviously, this is not the case with XF2; it's probable that they will indeed be re-introduced early on in the movie and will appear a lot throughout the first act in their own part of the grand scheme of the plot -- the synopsis shared with Moviehole is likely just the subplot that doesn't involve them, perhaps because it's being shot first and/or separately. Anyway, as always, the truth is out there, somewhere, and it's only a matter of time before we hear what the real deal is. Moviehole additionally reports that casting is currently happening in Canada, so hopefully we'll hear some news on that soon, as well. As we previously learned, the movie is supposed to begin shooting in December and is set to hit theaters next July.

*UPDATE: Apparently the plot/character details are incorrect and director Chris Carter is merely using old character descriptions in order to more-secretly cast for XF2. Thanks to all the commenters for pointing out the correction.

Though this much talked-about sequel has been flying under the radar, with most of the news coming from different interviews with David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, it appears 20th Century Fox is making it a high priority picture. Coming Soon reports The X-Files 2 will begin production in Vancouver on December 10th, with both Duchovny and Anderson reprising their roles as Special Agent Fox Mulder and Special Agent Dana Scully. Series creator Chris Carter will direct the film off a script written by Carter and Frank Spotnitz. Apparently, casting breakdowns refer to the film under the tile of Done One. Not sure if that means anything, but the most obvious is that, well, they've "done one" film and now they're doing another.

This news confirms what Duchovny first told folks back in September; at that time, he confirmed that the script was finished and they were supposed to begin filming at some point in December. There's no word on what the sequel will be about, but we do know that it won't pick up where the last one left off. This will be a straight-up stand alone story that, supposedly, has nothing to do with the first film or (I think) the show. No word on a release date yet, but I'd imagine we might see it arrive in theaters in January or February of 2009. It's been almost 10 years since the original X-Files film hit theaters, and it will be interesting to see if the show's massive fanbase still shows up for the sequel. Here's a question for you fans: Is this too little too late, or are you stoked about watching Mulder and Scully reunite for one more adventure?

Audrey (Halle Berry) has a pretty good life. Or, rather, she did. We only see how great it was in the rear-view mirror: A rich-but-real marriage to Brian (David Duchovny), two great kids (Micah Nicolas Berry and Harper Burke); a beautiful home. But Brian's dead – horribly, suddenly, because someone angry had a gun – and we see Audrey wandering through her crowded, empty beautiful home, absently comforting her children, preparing for the wake, trying to understand that Brian is gone. The past and present mingle for us, as they do for Audrey; we're pulled into the dislocated murmur and hum of her grief. But something snaps Audrey to attention: She didn't invite Jerry. Audrey doesn't really know Jerry (Benicio Del Toro); he's one of Brian's oldest friends, a lawyer who got addicted to heroin and pretty much fell out of the world. She doesn't really like Jerry, either; we witness past fights and skirmishes between her and Brian about her husband's bond with this lost man. And yet, it becomes very important that Jerry be invited to the funeral and the wake – in part because Audrey would rather think about anything other than what's actually happening, in part because she's trying to hold on to even the smallest fragments of the life that's been lost.

Things We Lost in the Fire could very easily have played at the shallow, simplistic level of a TV movie, or as a lightweight weeper destined to being watched only in rainy-Sunday re-runs on cable. But somewhere along the line, a few interesting choices were made, and Things We Lost in the Fire is all the better for them. Dreamworks chose Denmark's Susanne Bier (After the Wedding, Brothers) to direct Allan Loeb's screenplay; Del Toro and Berry were signed to star. And the end result of those decisions is up on the screen – and far better than it could have been. This is a film that, essentially, earns what it does, one that's not manipulative but rather simply effective, one that confounds or exceeds your expectations as often as it meets them. And, thanks to Del Toro, it's defined by a completely brilliant, wholly absorbing performance from one of our best actors, a piece of acting so good you can feel the entire movie reaching and working to try to come up to his level.