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Does Anyone Really Want To Believe Anymore?

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (27)

duchovny-anderson-1.jpg

I really don’t understand the movie industry. Well, perhaps off in the wee, dark corners of my brain, there is a glimmer that sparks every now and then…I get the part about safety in a known franchise. But what about when that franchise tanks? Do they just keep making the films no matter what, hoping that by accident the thing will catch fire again?

For the most part I loved “X-Files” the television series (though I dropped out toward the end). I’m all about conspiracy theories and shadowy, smoking men, aliens and a hot, brainy redhead. And who among us didn’t go for Duchovny’s mopey, suited paranoia? But by the time I Want to Believe hit theaters I no longer believed, nor did I care. And according to released figures ($4 million opening day, 4th place weekend), not much of anyone else did either. And yet in a new interview, David Duchovny confirms that that a script for the third film installment is being written:

“It is being written. One awaits just the green light from Fox, a little disappointed from the relatively poor reception of the second film. The error comes, in my opinion, that the authors strayed too far from the roots of the series. Moreover, the film was released in the summer. The third will be much closer to what the public expects, with government conspiracies, etc.” (tvmag.com)

Listen Dave, at this point I don’t think the public expects anything. I think the public has moved on - just like you - and we’re more focused on who you’re having sex with, both on and off the Californication set. Your Johnson…is out there. (Also, trust no Fox.)









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Comments

Damn. The arc plot really went beserk towards the end of the show - they'd revealed everything, but had to keep the show going, so they seemed to make it up as they went, Heroes-style. I'm not sure another movie about that gobbledegook alien plot is such a great idea. The aliens want whatnow?

Still, they tried to do a standalone plot for the last one, and they mucked that up good and proper. Dude, we want monsters. Some guy kidnapping people for unusual surgery? Not monsters.

Posted by: Grafty at November 7, 2010 5:16 PM

Who the fuck keeps greenlighting these? I wouldn't mind if they went ahead and did a mini series for FX or some shit like that but a theatrical? Face it, for whatever reason X-Files never transitioned well to the big screen. I fell for the first one, opening day, what. a. clunker. Second one is not even worth mentioning. Plus they got rid of all the interesting people, Alex Krycek, The Lone Gunmen, The Smoking Man. Blah.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at November 7, 2010 5:21 PM

Eh, I could go for this. IF they stick to the mythology roots. After all, 2012 was supposed to be a big deal on the original series (don't ask me how, everything gets fuzzy after season 7). If they take that lead, it could be interesting, I suppose. But clearly my enthusiasm and optimism is entirely gone because of that shitballs-crazy last movie.

Though I am a bit surprised that Gillian Anderson is down with this... and if they are "working on a script", I would assume they were at least somewhat confident in her return.

Posted by: Cruise at November 7, 2010 5:24 PM

I would go see this. The last movie sucked so hard but I would go see see this with the tiniest glimmer of hope that it would be watchable.

I like BarbadoSlim's idea. It might work better as a miniseries now.

Posted by: Kiddo at November 7, 2010 5:42 PM

I liked I Want to Believe well enough. I had a great theater experience, too. Come on, I had opening night cosplayers, including a 300 pound man dressed as Agent Scully--complete with pastel power bitch skirt suit, pumps, and wig--and his diminutive wife dressed as Agent Mulder. I even chatted them up to make sure it wasn't a really unfortunate looking 6'+ woman dressed as Scully. It was a hoot. If a third film gives me another chance to laugh that hard before the film even starts, I support it.

Posted by: Robert at November 7, 2010 6:29 PM

I'd go see this if, like Cruise suggests, they base it on a story thread from the original show. The 2012 idea is really pretty good. Mulder could discover that there was some possibility of stopping whatever's supposed to happen if.... That's something I'd sign up for.

Posted by: Abby at November 7, 2010 6:30 PM

There were 2 sci-fi shows that make me think "the 90s" -- The X-Files and Babylon 5. And no offense, but I think they should be left back there.

Didn't they get to the point with X-Files that, outside of revealing all the conspiracies to the public, they were kinda stuck?

Posted by: Fredo at November 7, 2010 7:09 PM

Hey now there's an idea lets have science fiction network do an update on Babylon 5 followed by FOX movie doing a reboot. That way they can entirely fuck up two of the best shows of my childhood viewing.

Posted by: clancys_daddy at November 7, 2010 8:14 PM

Jesus Christ, REALLY?

Posted by: Scully at November 7, 2010 8:25 PM

Additionally, per the series, the world ends with the aliens taking over on December 21, 2012. So, will they release the movie before this date, or are they going to try to explain it?

And how will they get Gillian Anderson back for this? She's been working to make a name for herself outside the X-Files world, with moderate success.

Here is a response from Frank Spotnitz: "I’m afraid I can neither confirm nor deny. I wish I could say more, but all I can say is what I’ve said all along: Don’t give up!" (http://biglight.com/blog/the-hope-is-out-there-2/)

Really, Mr. Carter (and Mr. Spotnitz). Please give up. You're not meant to write for the big screen.

Posted by: Scully at November 7, 2010 8:33 PM

XF3? Only if it includes some C'fornicationy Mulder on Scully action, hard-R style. Who am I kidding, forget it; just watch the episodes "Home" and "Postmodern Prometheus" on DVD a few times and remember the good old (TV) days.

Posted by: Torgotronic at November 7, 2010 10:56 PM

All I care about is that Mulder and Scully are alive and together. If they want to keep making the movies like the stand alone eps, I'm down.

Posted by: Mebe at November 8, 2010 1:13 AM

Also this was debunked by DD people, there is no script and this is false.

Posted by: Mebe at November 8, 2010 1:13 AM

hoping that by accident the thing will catch fire again

For a minute there, I thought you were proposing that film studios sometimes consider committing insurance fraud via arson...

Because that has at least a reasonable chance of success.

Posted by: MM at November 8, 2010 2:18 AM

I was a huge fan and I'm begging them to let the show die already. That last movie sucked SO HARD. A gay guy who wants to be a woman and for some reason forgoes the usual sex-change operation for sticking his head onto the assembled body parts of murdered women? Not to mention the utterly dull subplot of Dr. Scully trying to convince religious parents to treat their son's illness with sketchy modern medicine. The only time I perked up was when Skinner arrived, and then they didn't even have him remove his shirt. Unless they have a shirtless Skinner in the next one and bring back Krycek somehow, I'm passing.

Posted by: DeadBessie at November 8, 2010 8:46 AM

Hell yes, I want to believe! ANY excuse they can come up with for me to get a glimpse of Mulder doing his thing, I'm there.

Posted by: bubblegumshoe at November 8, 2010 9:02 AM

I'll say about this one what I said about the last one: I'll only go see it if Carter and Spotnitz aren't the ones writing it.

I've never seen any show creator with less of a sense of what makes the show great than fucking Chris Carter. Seriously, what's Darin Morgan doing these days? Give him a couple million dollars to write the script (take it out of Duchovny's pay) and it would stand a good chance of being watchable.

Posted by: Rachel at November 8, 2010 9:28 AM

The only time I perked up was when Skinner arrived

My mom and I are serious X-File-ophiles, and walking out of the theater I said to her, "You know, Skinner showing up was the best part of that." She agreed.

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't see another one, though, even if it got crappy reviews. So I guess I can't really look down my nose at people still going to see Sex and the City movies. (I still do, but I shouldn't.)

Posted by: Todd at November 8, 2010 9:29 AM

Seriously, what's Darin Morgan doing these days? Give him a couple million dollars to write the script...

I love this idea. Darin wrote the best X-Files episodes. Too bad Chris Carter has a giant stick up his ass.

Posted by: Scully at November 8, 2010 9:53 AM

I want another film. It's the best series period. And Mulder and Scully are the best duo with the most amazing chemistry.

Posted by: akanni at November 8, 2010 10:44 AM

Even though the series started to suck the minute it no longer had full-time Mulder, I still love the characters and want to see them again. The second film was good, it was just disappointingly run of the mill -- a long, normal episode -- when I wanted it to be much more.

But does anyone still want to believe? YES! I TOTALLY DO!

Posted by: June Velcro at November 8, 2010 1:15 PM

Why not? At this point there's no direction to go but up.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at November 8, 2010 1:23 PM

I see it this way: no Krycek no XF and sure as hell no jaimek

Posted by: jaimek at November 9, 2010 2:57 AM

No.

Posted by: Maryscott O'Connor at November 9, 2010 2:12 PM

I just want to see more of Gillian.

Posted by: John W at November 9, 2010 4:20 PM

I just want to see David Duchovny playing the most undelible character ever: FOX WILLIAM MULDER!


OK. I love Hank moody too, but they are different form each other. lol

Posted by: Suzier at November 10, 2010 1:40 PM

I am in love with the show, so i would see the movie regardless.

Posted by: Lauren M at February 5, 2011 1:09 PM