Genre: Thriller/Horror.
Studio: 20th Century Fox.
Production Company: Unknown; most likely Ten-Thirteen Productions (X-Files creator Chris Carter's company).
Project Phase: Greenlighted.
Who's In It: David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder); Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully); William B. Davis (Cigarette-Smoking Man); Mitch Pileggi (Assistant Director Walter Skinner, unconfirmed but likely); Dean Haglund (Langly); Tom Braidwood (Frohicke); Bruce Harwood (Byers).
Who's Making It: Rob Bowman (Director); Chris Carter (Screenwriter, Series Creator); Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz (Story); John Bartley (Director of Photography).
Premise: See Scoop Feedback.
Release Date: Summer 1998 (tentative).
Comments:
The fans that go to X-Files conventions continue to report back on 20th Century Fox's developing of a feature film project, but it remains unknown if the film is intended to make the franchise's leap from television to movies (a la Next Generation) or is an off-shoot to be released in the summer hiatus season. Speculation is so high about this, it's really best to heed Mulder's advise and "Trust No One".
Developments:
April 14, 1997... Rob Bowman is confirmed as director. Duchovny signs on the dotted line for $4 million dollars.
Rumors:
December, 1995... Chris Carter has confirmed that he will write the proposed X-Files movie script during the spring/early summer of 1996, to be possibly filmed immediately before production of season four of the T.V. show. Although it's too early to see what direction the movie plot will evolve into, Carter has spoken that the movie should be a stand-alone story to bring in more of a potential audience not already familiar with the show. Thus, if the movie is successful in its attempt, more people will be inclined to tune into season four/five.
Scoop Feedback:
April 6, 1996... Chris Carter was recently interviewed, saying that he would start writing the movie script soon, and filming should occur next spring. [Scoop provided by 'Freddy'; originally taken from the April 6-12 edition of T.V. Guide.]
June 5, 1996... A submitter informs us that shooting will take place between the 1996-97 and 1997-98 summer hiatus breaks; of which we at CA find a little hard to swallow as accepted fact. Carter may want it that way, but nothing is ever that concrete in film production land. The poster also alludes that the film should be released directly after the seasons fifth and final season in 1998. An unconfirmed rumor has the series final plotline directly leading into the movie's plotline, and will address the dissapearance of Samantha Mulder. Another rumor has it that ideas are already buzzing for a spin-off series of the show that would feature two new FBI agents. [Scoop provided by an anonymous poster.]
June 28, 1996... A nasty rumor has it that former X-Files producers/writers Glen Morgan and James Wong have been brought back to the show at the insistence of Chris Carter. The producer/writer duo struck out on their own last year with their FOX series Space: Above and Beyond, but the series has been cancelled. The nasty edge to the rumor involved Carter speaking to FOX President of Programming John Matioan about returning the pair to the series so Carter can focus developing the forthcoming movie project. Carter's casual-or-not comment may have had significant weight with Matioan's eventual decision to cancel S:AAB and keep Carter happy with FOX's possible franchise. While Morgan and Wong are happy to be working on X-Files again, they feel that not enough promotion and numerous pre-emptions to Space helped with its demise. Morgan and Wong are also reportedly under contract to work with FOX regardless, and would like Space: Above and Beyond to return as a movie the source claims. [Scoop provided by 'The Spy'.]
November 3, 1996... A rumor mentions that Nicholas Lea (the actor that portrays former FBI agent/assassin Alex Krycek) may be included in the upcoming X-Files movie, as well as the character Jerry Hardin portrayed ('Deep Throat'). Since Carter hasn't written the movie's script yet, these rumors can't be confirmed. Carter may be in the starting phases of developing a storyline for the feature and mulling around possible story ideas and characters included in the show, so nothing can be confirmed as-of yet. [Scoop sent in by Gerthein.]
November 17, 1996... While doing interviews for his new series Millennium Chris Carter stated that neither Gillian Anderson or David Duchovny are signed as of yet to do any X-Files movie. Carter has expressed he's having trouble developing the story so that it's a 'stand-alone' and not tied into the U.F.O. 'mythology' arc of the series. Incidentally, the '97-'98 season was designated as the last, but Carter says that may not be so anymore - regardless of the release (or not) of an X-Files film. Carter also notes, according to this scooper, that the Samantha plot-line will be resolved at the beginning of the next season and not in the movie. [Scoop supplied anonymously.]
November 17-21, 1996... Two people report that they've seen a Gillian Anderson interview where the actress said she didn't want to do an X-Files movie. [Scoop sent in by 'cromwell'.]
The second individual reports that at a Star Trek convention in Adelaide, Australia, the editor of Starlog magazine (Dave McDonnell) mentions that it is "highly unlikely" Gillian Anderson will be in the X-Files film. Fox has announced it for a November '97 release, but word is Anderson wants to do a different role for her first feature and not be typecast. [Scoop handed in by 'Super Dave'.]
November 25, 1996... Word reached CA that Quentin Tarantino will direct an upcoming episode of the television series to be broadcast after the Superbowl game in January 1997. Tarantino originally had a snafu with the Director's Guild of America; Tarantino doesn't belong to the organization, and therefore can't direct on Guild sanctioned projects. He received a waiver last year to direct an episode of E.R., and it was only to be a one-time event. It's unclear just yet if Tarantino plans to join the Guild or if another waiver was issued. [Scoop supplied by 'Burgerflipper'.]
December, 1996... Tarantino's request to direct an X-Files episode was turned down by the Director's Guild. [Scoops sent in by various sources.]
January 21, 1997... In an interview picked up by numerous publications, Chris Carter stated that he is currently planning to leave the show after the fifth season. During the same summer (1998), an X-Files feature would be released that would tie-up the season cliffhanger and possibly any loose plot threads left behind by the series. Carter cites a desire to move on to other theatrical projects as well as wanting to end his involvement with the series on a high crest. However, Carter also rather enigamtically alluded that the plan is tentative at best; matters (or paychecks) might change and he may remain on for a sixth season. However, with ratings for the television series at an all-time high, and with both Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny committed by contract for six seasons, the series may continue on without the direct involvement of Carter. [Scoops sent in by Brent Lynch, 'd190-83', 'widgett', 'Constantine', Drew, 'Ziggy Stardust', 'JTR555' and anonymously.]
And an Australian reader came across a curious news item. Seems that a television magazine reported that Duchovny convinced fellow FBI agent Gillian Anderson to hold off on signing the ink with any movie contracts. Reportedly, Fox wanted the two stars to commit to at least three X-Files features. [Scoop reported by 'gasoline'.]
March 18, 1997... A substantial part has been written for actor Lance Henriksen (lead actor in Carter's other Fox-TV series, Millennium.) It's unknown at the present time whether or not Henriksen's role would be that of his television character, profiler Frank Black, or an entirely new character. [Scoop sent in by various scoopers.]
April 5, 1997... Will regular series director Rob Bowman direct the feature film? [Scoop sent in by 'BBossert'; later confirmed.]
April 16, 1997... Bowman (who's directed several episodes, including the post-Superbowl Leonard Betts and the highly forgettable big-screen teen rollerblader flick Airbourne ) is confirmed. Fox also annoucned that David Duchovny has finalized his contract negotiations, agreeing to star in the picture for $4 million dollars plus profit sharing. Gillian Anderson's discussions are on-going. [Scoops sent in by Tim Fink, Joe Hanna, 'H.B.', Christian, 'Scooperpooper', 'FraggleMom', 'Maverick', 'JTR555', 'Sancho', 'Howard Stern', 'sperkins', Allan Whatford, 'Simba'. Special acknowledgment to Brent Lynch for the background directorial info on Bowman!]
From the Shrug FileS (i.e. - we haven't a clue as to its authenticity...)
"My brother in law works at the law firm that is handling Chris Carter's legal affairs for his sexual harrasment thing. He is telling me that the script had been completed by Carter and green lighted for much longer than people think, but that Mr. Carter's lawyer (after viewing a copy) noticed some striking similarities betweeen the woman who is suing them and a woman who is abducted, tortured, and killed by aliens after she slaps her boss with a false law suit." We need Spooky working on this one, pronto. [Scoop sent in anonymously - but the email had a odor of cigarette smoke to it...]
The official magazine reports that the film will incorporate story threads from the fifth-season cliffhanger but that a person unfamiliar with the episode in question will not be left out. Locations are being presently scouted for, including places in the American Southwest and 'cold' locales. The filming will not occur in and around Vancouver, B.C., as the series crew will be prepping the upcoming sixth season episodes. [A wealth of top secret information supplied by our digital Deep Throat Josh Ehrnwald.]
"Chris Carter came on Campus for a Q&A last week. One of the more interesting scoops he mentioned was the fact that he had 2 X-files movies planned. The first one will not use the T.V. series crew but he has promised them jobs for the second movie. He also brought up the fact that the movie script for the first movie is 2/3 done." [Info supplied by 'xing' at UCLA.]
May 25, 1997... Word around Vancouver is that there are only a small number of copies of the X-Files movie script - and they're printed on red paper, as to prevent widespread photocopying.
We also got this email:
"The movie will have roughly 20 FBI agent characters, and involve the Elders - a mysterious group that meets when trouble arises. Filming will take place in California and Alaska." The filming locales are confirmed, but as to the Elders...? [Scoop sent in by Drew.]
June 1, 1997... Lance Henriksen has passed on the opportunity to star in the X-Files feature. The actor was offered the opportunity to play President Abraham Lincoln in a TNT TV movie and leaped at the chance. [Info submitted by 'Raven', 'Nikita 42', and anonymously.]
Also, the name the production team members are using to refer to the project is 'Blackwood'. We were unable to find out if this is a codename, the movie's subtitle, or a ruse. [Scoops sent in by 'Stringer C', 'widgett', anonymously.]
A scooper who also reported the above developments also included this: that Gillian Anderson has signed for an unspecified amount (unconfirmed by us); that Mulder and Scully will persue a romantic relationship in the movie. [Scoop sent anonymously.]
Another person heard a rumor that the President of the United States is abducted in the movie, and that the show delves into the Consortium's attempts to cover up the truth. [Sent in anonymously.]
On Monday May 19th the shop doing the makeup effects for Blackwood was told to stop all work. No word from the scooper if the work continued at a later date. [Sent in anonymously.]
June 10, 1997... The above anonymous scooper returns with an update: work has indeed resumed in the makeup department. "The delay was so Chris Carter could review the work being done," the scooper tells us. Carter did ask for some changes to be made; what these changes were to, we haven't a clue.
Also, the 'Blackwood' moniker seems to be just a code word for the production, or at least the production staff are referring to it as such. [Sent in anonymously.]
Dallas, Texas will be one of the locales Scully and Mulder find themselves at, although the production won't actually visit the city. The Dallas Morning News Today reported that although one of the scenes for the film happens in Dallas, no filming will occur there. [Sent in by 'ghill'.]
A Web site devoted to actor Mitch Pileggi (a.k.a. FBI Director Skinner) mentions that Pileggi would be included in the movie. [Sent in anonymously.]
Dean Haglund, who portrays Lone Gunman Langley, said his scenes would be filmed in L.A. in two weeks. [Scoop sent in by 'Deep Throat' and 'southern'; awaiting confirmation.]
We're told that principal photography has already started on the film. While the film is shooting in L.A., we've received another report that the setting is Dallas, Texas. Producers have been talking to the Dallas police department about using official Dallas logos and signs in a scene. Only two people are going to get to read the complete script, but both have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements. No, we ain't one of 'em. [Thanks to 'MattM71496'.]
" I interviewed William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man) when he spoke last week at the U. of Georgia and he told me that they're starting shooting this week on The X-Files movie. Duchovny, Anderson and him are all in it, but even he hasn't seen the completed script as of last week.
And he signed an unopened pack of Marlboros for me - quite a nice guy." [Sent in by 'hansolo'.]
And it looks like it's true folks: Gillian Anderson has signed for the movie. She'll reportedly earn the same dough as her co-star Duchovny (around $4 mil, which ain't bad.) [Covered by Drew, 'widgett'.]
June 17, 1997... Thanks to a scooper named 'Deep Throat', we're able to contact actor Dean Haglund (who portrays Lone Gunman Langly) and confirm his involvement with the X-Files movie. As well, Haglund's other fellow Lone Gunmen will be seen in the film. Haglund will shoot his scenes in L.A. in about two weeks. [Thanks to 'Deep Throat' for the contact, and Dean Haglund for the info. An additional scoop from 'JTR555'.]
June 24, 1997... [We knew someone would help us out. Supplying
the additional Lone Gunmen character names was the ever-helpful
'Mr. X'. He's also got this theory that the 'Blackwood' subtitle
refers to Fox Mulder's obsession with former MTV VJ Nina Blackwood
and his search for what has become of her. Thing is, we'd believe
it.]
Related Sites:
Dean's Web Page - Dean Haglund, who portrays Lone Gunman Langly
on the show, has his own web page. Here he breaks news about developments
on the series and upcoming movie, as well as provides interested
viewers with a little more about the actor and his X-Files experiences.
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