X-Files creator brings Lone Gunmen home

The man who created The X-Files is coming back to Vancouver.

Chris Carter, creator and executive producer of the long-running series about paranormal investigations, confirmed Tuesday that a spinoff series based on X-Files' recurring characters the Lone Gunmen -- a trio of conspiracy theorists played by Vancouver actors Tom Braidwood, Dean Haglund and Bruce Harwood -- will be based here.

The pilot episode of the series, tentatively titled Lone Gunmen, will be produced by Carter and will be filmed in Vancouver in March. If the series wins a time slot on the Fox network's fall schedule, shooting of series episodes will start in late July.

The X-Files was based in Vancouver for five years, from 1993 to 1998. Carter also produced his series Millennium in Vancouver from 1997 to 1998, as well as the short-lived Harsh Realm, which was cancelled last November.

In a phone interview from his Los Angeles office, Carter said he is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with many of The X-Files' original Vancouver crew. Braidwood, who plays the Lone Gunman character Frohike, was an X-Files first assistant director for five seasons.

"We've had seven years of these guys," Carter said of the Lone Gunmen, "so it isn't like you have to invent a lot. They have been very successful characters. We've liked writing for them. So this is a natural progression."

Carter added that The X-Files is in a "holding pattern" pending a decision about its future. It has been widely rumoured the show may be its final year. Fox Entertainment Group chair Sandy Grushow has said the final decision rests with Carter.

"I don't really have a plan A, B or C," Carter said. "I'm just flying by the seat of my pants here. But I would say a decision is imminent."