Source: Big Light

As a hardcore X-Files fan (yes, after all these years I still love the show), when I watched the show back in the 90s, I have always noticed that Mulder’s “I Want to Believe” Poster changed in season four of the show (probably because I’m the only one geeky enough to notice such a small detail). So, I decided to contact Frank Spotnitz, one of the main writers/producers of the show, to find clarity on the issue.

Here’s what Spotnitz had to say:

“My recollection is that there was a problem with the legal rights to the photograph used in the original ‘I Want To Believe’ poster. It was resolved by changing the image.”

Not a big deal that this change was made, but since there was never an “in universe” explanation for the change, I have been curious for years as to why it happened. The reason why I noticed this change was because this poster is one of the most iconic and memorable things about the show. You can forget every other detail about Mulder’s basement office, but everyone remembers the “I Want To Believe” UFO poster hanging up on his wall. It really embodied who Mulder was in one simple image.

It is nice to have closure on this matter. I can finally sleep at night. 🙂