On December 2nd Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing The X-Files: I Want to Believe on both DVD and Blu-ray. To help promote the release we chatted with writer-producer Frank Spotnitz who reveals his plans for another X-FILES, if 20th Century Fox were to ever give the go to another sequel. Beyond the break you can read all about his thoughts on the box office and what his plans are for the future.
Frank Spotnitz explains how they were pretty disappointed with the box officie numbers when X-FILES hit theaters this past July.
"We were all a bit disappointed, we had some indication that we were in for a rough time when THE DARK KNIGHT started to become the phenomenon that it is, and breaking records. THE DARK KNIGHT is a history making film at the box office, and we came out with our little dark film a week after. It was disappointing to be sure. But the film made something like 20 million domestically and close to 50 million overseas. That is very telling about what is happening in the domestic marketplace."
Even though the film didn't do all too well in theaters, Spotnitz explains that another sequel may very well happen.
"I think there very well could be more in the future," he reveals to Bloody-Disgusting. "The studio has not indicated another one yet, but there certainly is an audience for it. I think what happened this past summer was a function of bad luck and bad timing with the release. These movies cost a lot of money, not just to make but to market them as well. When the studio looks at the sales of the DVD that’s when they will really decide to see if its worth risking. There is still a lot of love with 20th Century Fox, as well as with the fans."
If a sequel were to happen, Spotnitz explains that he'd like the story to revolve around "Alien Colonization".
"If we were to do one more movie, I think it pretty obviously would have to deal with Alien Colonization." He continues, "In the series we say its coming in 2012, I honestly think that that is the movie that the fans are most eager to see. Hat would be the one I would want to make. For me I think its pretty integral to the series to make tell that story. With I WANT TO BELIEVE, we were un-teathered by the TV show, we could tell any story we want. If you are a fan of the show, you know that about 80% of the stories do NOT have anything to do with aliens; they were stand alone scary stories. This movie was more about the relationship between Mulder and Scully, and not so much about the X-File."
Spotnitz talked a bit about whether or not David Duchovny, Gillian Anderso would return.
"It was one of the best experiences that we all had with the X-FILES. When we did the TV show it was hard work and crazy deadlines, and what was nice this time coming back years after the fact, was the sense of appreciation for each other and the characters. It was really a joy in many ways, as difficult as it was to deal with the cold. Both David and Gillian have gone on to do very different work since leaving the X-FILES, but I think Mulder and Scully will always hold a special place in their hearts. If another one does not happen, we are all pretty proud of what we have done and content with this film".
So what's next?
"The X-FILES is really so many different genres, it’s never been just one type of story. It’s sci-fi, its suspense fiction, it’s horror, it’s romance, it’s comedy, it’s murder mystery. For me its what I love about the show. If it were up to me I think that X-FILES could go on forever if there was an audience for it. Right now I have a couple of TV projects that I cant talk about yet, but hopefully you will be seeing something from me in 2009. One of them definetly has a science fiction component, and the other is more thriller. Horror for me has so many subgenres; Its SAW and FRIDAY THE 13th and THE EXORCIST. If I found a thought provoking horror story I would be all over it! We did some truly horrific and grotesque episodes with the X Files, It takes a lot to scare me at this point, my reaction is to laugh. It’s like I am delighted the more horrifying it is."
X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE arrives on DVD and Blu-ray December 2nd.
oh Frank, i'm sorry man, but the Dark Knight is only part of the reason the X-files movie bombed at the box office. the main reason was because the movie sucked. bad. and i'm not your typical pessimistic anonymous message board asshole either, this is coming from a dude who has most of the x-files trading cards from back in the day, a couple of the books, all the damn vhs tapes, and a t-shirt. thats not to say that i won't go see the next one (if one happens) because i have faith. i love the x-files. but i most certainly will not buy the dvd for this shitty movie.
as much as i love the X-Files and Gillian, Frank CAN NOT blame The Dark Knight (although it didn't help competing w/ it). it was clearly a rush job on the movie and FOX was stupid to have it come out a week after TDK. as far as a sequel w/ the alien colonization, BORING!! the whole 'mythology' storyline was boring, convoluted and tedious. THE best eps were the stand alone eps (HOME, ICE, FIREWALK etc). they need to do one like those fantastic and genuinely creepy eps. trying to do the mythology after so many years away is simply suicide of the franchise (IMO).
I loved the new movie and I already have the 2 movies on blu-ray (the blu-ray and dvd got out here in germany on the 25th).
I feel very positive about a third movie happening... and I can't wait.
Maybe there's hope.
i liked the movie. its funny that they ve already begun to sell the dvds here in austria. finally we are the first!!! yeah!
i really think you have to see the movie in the context of the development of the characters through the years.
and i d love to see an invasion x file movie!!!!!! sounds cool! and scully will always be in my heart!! :-) and duchovnis character from twin peaks ;)
as big an XPHILE i am, the images of Scully and Mulder kissing and being a "couple" is VERY unsettling and comes across as forced and untruthful (IMO).
Fox is to blame for the 'failure' of IWTB at the box office, for completely and utterly mis-marketing the film. It shouldn't have been portrayed as an action movie and it shouldn't have been released in the summer. I loved the film and know many other who did too, Frank is so spot on about there being an audience for an XF3.
IF YOU WOULD MAKE AND PROMOTE A DAMN X FILES MOVIE ABOUT ALIENS IN A VERY REALISTIC FASHION IT WOULD BE SUCCESFUL. use REAL facts and information maybe even include the phoenix lights and the stephenville texas ufo stuff in the storyline. nobody wants to see virus' and other storylines in a show that was a hit because of it's alien and ufo related subject matter, other stuff was cool too and they have done other stuff in the first two movies. make one last big investment in this franchise, go all out and make a great x files film about aliens/ufos.
damn it
As a 100% X-Files virgin, I must say that I enjoyed this movie. It wasn't perfect (They need to learn to stretch a budget) but it was a refreshing break from the overblown bullshit that Hollywood has been blowing at us latley. I'm in the small percentage who thought that the Dark Knight was overrated, and X-Files was a decent mature alternative to The Hulk and all that kiddy shit. It didn't shoot low, and god, I appreciated it.
But another movie? I just don't think anyone cares at this point. Maybe someday, maybe not.
LokiRising, i'm w/ you. i watched the last week on DVD The Dark Knight and i didn't care for it at all ( i love Bale though) and i have NO desire to see The Hulk OR Iron Man. i didn't think I Want to Believe was bad either. it struck me as one of the quieter tv episodes of the show.
This X-Files installment was a breath of fresh air and original like a good week during the series. It was nice to take a break from the alien aspect, but of course, that wasn't going to be popular. Like Halloween III - good movie, but a lot of bitches because "waa no Michael Myers". I just watched Dark Knight and I want to know - what the HELLLL was the big fucking deal about THAT??? My god are there a lot of geeks out there.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you. djblack, you nailed it. It's "quiet." It was thought provoking. I like being able to go see a horror movie once in a while that isn't either A.)Over the top violence (THere is always a time and place for that) or B.)Kiddy bullshit. It just reminded me of an old fashioned horror movie that relied on an intelligent script and atmosphere to deliver the goods.
And that's a problem?
LokiRising thank you i see more people said The Dark Night is overrated in so many ways and the x-files give them money to do it the movie looks like is written adjusted to the budget.
sorry for my crap english
I agree with those who say the movie was poorly marketed and released at the wrong time of the year. But there was nothing here to justify a feature film. It was at best a lesser-tier two-part TV episode. Next time they make a film, IF they make another film, make it something worthy of the big screen. Then the film will do some business.
I'm a huge X-Files fan and I waited to see it. I heard everyone bitching that it sucked so I went into it with my reservations. But damn if I didn't love it and thought it was better then Fight The Future. I can't wait to buy the DVD and hope they make one more.
The real problem is people found out it didn't really have werewolves. Werewolves would've insured mega box office.
Oh, and the fact that after all this time the movie was little more than a below-average episode of the TV series was a bit of a letdown.
I enjoyed it, but thought this should have been the middle film of a three movie project if they were doing it. The character development was the big part of the film and even though not everybody liked how it turned out. It still is a reason to support it even if you didn't like it. Topcow has the right Idea. I am going to support it for the sake of getting fox to make another film and hopefully they learn from their mistake and not put it up against something that is going to break records at the box office. I want a end all to end all alien colonization big bad ass film like Fight the Future as well as see some faces that we haven't seen in a long time from the show. Who are still around anyway.
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Frank Spotnitz explains how they were pretty disappointed with the box officie numbers when X-FILES hit theaters this past July.
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