When promoting his Cinemax mini-series Hunted, X-Files writer/producer Frank Spotnitz had a very interesting conversation with Collider to say the least. He was asked about the last X-Files movie and how badly it disappointed to which he admitted he understands what went wrong. To cut to the chase, the producer said that it was a story-of-the-week and not much else. Anyone who possibly saw The X-Files: I Want to Believe completely gets that and that is why we are very much welcoming this sentiment being voiced by a man at the top of the franchise.
Furthermore, he believes that theatergoers wanted aliens. That is what everyone thinks about in regards to the series and they certainly did not get it on the big screen. There is no word about ‘conveniently forgotten cell phones,’ but the idea that aliens will show up makes me really want to see a third X-Files movie now.
Part of the problem with that is the box office performance which really is not all that bad. The film cost $30 million to make and grossed just over twice that amount on the global level. With that in mind, it would not be too far-fetched for Fox to gear up for a round three to complete the saga the way things were meant to end. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are both said to be on board with such a trilogy capper, but the greenlight currently resides with Fox who is understandably skittish about doubling down when they seemingly left the table ahead.
Here is his full quote from Collider for those of you wondering what he said exactly when asked about whether he wants to do a third X-Files movie:
I absolutely do! I think everybody should write to 20thCentury Fox. I’ve been saying for years now that I feel it’s a cultural crime that they have not finished the series. The second movie did not perform the way anybody wanted it to at the box office. I’m proud of that movie, but it makes sense to me that it didn’t. It was released at the height of summer, and it was a story-of-the-week. That’s not what the movie-going audience wanted. The movie-going audience wanted the aliens. That’s what they knowThe X-Files for. And that story is not done, and it should be finished. I don’t think it’s too late, but I think it’s gonna be, pretty soon. I’m still agitating with everyone I can grab to say, “Let’s make this movie while we still can!”