"X-Files" Movie Details And Title Revealed: "The X-Files: I Want To Believe"

LOS ANGELES — The truth is finally out there about the new "X-Files" movie title.

The second big-screen spinoff of the paranormal TV adventure will be called "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," Chris Carter, the series' creator and the movie's director and co-writer, told The Associated Press.

Distributor 20th Century Fox signed off on the title Wednesday.

The title is a familiar phrase for fans of the series that starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents chasing after aliens and supernatural happenings. "I Want to Believe" was the slogan on a poster Duchovny's UFO-obsessed agent Fox Mulder had hanging in the cluttered basement office where he and Anderson's Dana Scully worked.

"It's a natural title," Carter said in a telephone interview Tuesday during a break from editing the film. "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."

"I Want to Believe" comes 10 years after the first film and six years after the finale of the series, whose opening credits for much of its nine-year run featured the catch-phrase "the truth is out there."

Due in theaters July 25, the movie will not deal with aliens or the intricate mythology about interaction between humans and extraterrestrials that the show built up over the years, Carter said.

Instead, it casts Mulder and Scully into a stand-alone, earth-bound story aimed at both serious "X-Files" fans and newcomers, he said.

"It has struck me over the last several years talking to college-age kids that a lot of them really don't know the show or haven't seen it," Carter said. "If you're 20 years old now, the show started when you were 4. It was probably too scary for you or your parents wouldn't let you watch it. So there's a whole new audience that might have liked the show. This was made to, I would call it, satisfy everyone."

Hardcore fans need not worry that the movie will be going back to square one, though, Carter said. The movie will be true to the spirit of the show and everything Mulder and Scully went through, he said.

"The reason we're even making the movie is for the rabid fans, so we don't want to insult them by having to take them back through the concept again," Carter said.

Carter said he settled on "I Want to Believe" from the time he and co-writer Frank Spotnitz started on the screenplay. It took so long to go public with it because studio executives wanted to make sure it was a marketable title, he said.

The filmmakers have kept the story tightly under wraps to prevent plot spoilers from leaking on the Internet, a phenomenon that barely existed when the first movie came out in 1998.

"We went to almost comical lengths to keep the story a secret," Carter said. "That included allowing only the key crew members to read the script, and they had to read it in a room that had video cameras trained on them. It was a new experience."

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20th Century Fox is owned by News Corp.

Comments

[Lucille]

I hope they answer the question of what happened to their baby? Remember, in the last episode they were in a hotel room planning ot find their baby? (Apparently the aliens had a lot to do with conception even though Mulder donated his sperm to Scully, so the baby is still somehow part alien).

[candice208]

I was surprised to read her blog on "M a r r y M i l l i o n a i r e . C o m." I don"t understand why she write blog on a celebrity dating site. Does she feel lonely and want to date with someone?

[InternationalObserver]

"..."It's a natural title," Carter said in a telephone interview..."

'Natural' is one adjective. 'Dumb' is another.

[ladygreenslippers]

how about: I want some!
how many episodes, you could cut the sexual tension between those two.

[heretical eggs]

The X-files lost me and many of its loyal viewers in the last couple of years of its run. The story was simply too convoluted, and it felt like the writers were continuously holding out another carrot so we would continue to watch. I gave up on it, and frankly I never saw any of the last two years.

I did see the first film, and it was fun. However, it was not a complete story. It felt like there should have been a "to be continued" at the end. I doubt I will see this film. It's been far too long since I had any interest in these characters.. If friends go see it and rave, then I may take a trip to the cinema. Otherwise, I'll look for it on cable.

Also, I am also very dubious about Chris Carter wanting to "reintroduce" the X-files to a new generation. He wants to make some money. Period. Don't get me wrong, the X-files was a wonderful series at its height. I and many were glued to the screen each week. However, as I said, it devolved and became so convoluted that I for one lost interest.

[loril]

This is great news! Can't wait to tell my husband. We watched this together all during the nineties when we were dating...and it really is the last network tv show I watched religiously. I saw the first movie and I didn't dare hope there would be another one. Seeing current releases is a big challenge when you have a little one at home; but I'll be sure to line up a sitter for this!

[mojopo]

I'm so anticipating this one. Can't wait, thanks 1013!

[Nooneyouknow]

Four years old? God, I'm old. On the other hand, I'm all over this movie, and Gillian Anderson looks as gorgeous as ever. Reasons to get out of bed in the morning...

[ScandalousCandice]

It's an awesome title. I can't wait for this.

[ecstewart]

Yayyyyyyyyyy! It's back! I can't wait!!

[SkuddGobang]

Why do the freaking Christians have to ruin EVERYTHING? Can't we just have our favorite TV show about conspiracies and intrigue and the unexplained without having to deal with it suddenly becoming about Jesus?

Isn't it enough that they've ruined the world that they have to ruin science fiction movies too?

Mulder is a porn fan.. not a Jesus freak.

[Loobie]

What the hell are you talking about?

[SkuddGobang]

What I'm talking about is that we all suffered through Signs to get hammered over the head with "aliens are real... better believe in the Bible" and now that this movie is going to be "Mulder struggling with his faith and balancing faith and science" it's gonna turn into the same thing.

Who needs it?

[freakbrother]

As an unashamed Christian, the X-Files was one of my favorite programs ever. So let's not stereotype us Jesus believers. Fact is, I have never ruined the world. Besides, the Son of God is likely a shape-shifting Alien himself. I want to believe! It's all just good Sci Fi., the X-Files that is. Lighten up dude!