the x files Tagged Articles at Cinematical

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.

When The X-Files premiered on the fledgling Fox network on September 10, 1993 (remember that far back?), it became a very successful award-winning phenomenon that lasted for eight seasons. And even though the show's popularity wained somewhat in later seasons, it was still given the big-budget Hollywood treatment in 1998 with a theatrical version called The X Files: Fight the Future. The film performed well enough at the box office and on DVD so it followed that another chapter in the cinematic exploits of FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully would happen soon enough.

Well, that day never came -- at least so far. Although, there have always been rumors and reports during the intervening years. But now, according to former series Executive Producer Frank Spotnitz, we might not have to wait forever for the next chapter after all. Over at Wired, they've posted some juicy bits from the man about a proposed sequel. According to Spotnitz: "A sequel is in development and a script is in the works." That also jives with what I heard on NPR Wednesday during an interview with David Duchovny on Elvis Mitchell's show The Treatment.

When asked by Mitchell about the future of The X-Files, Duchovny said he would take part in another movie and that one was in the works. Although, he has said that in the past, this time, with the added info provided by Spotnitz, it might not be just wishful thinking or speculation, but actual fact. I was a huge fan of the original TV show and enjoyed the first feature film incarnation immensely, so I hope whatever has to happen to see another chapter materialize actually happens. Most everyone involved seems pretty motivated for another go-around and keeps talking about it so it shouldn't be that hard to get it together, should it? Or maybe I'm the only one really interested in more X-Files?