Source: TV Mag | X-Files News | Posted By: Dan Geer

While talking to David Duchovny about his current show Californication, French website TV Mag took the opportunity ask him about the status of a third X-Files film getting made. According to Duchovny, apparently a script is currently underway. Read on for the quote!

(Update: A couple of updates have come in that shed some more light on this story. In a nutshell, Duchonvy may not have actually said that a script is being written, but there is still hope).

Original French quote from TV Mag:

“Il est en cours d’écriture. On attend juste le feu vert de la Fox, un peu échaudée par l’accueil relativement médiocre du deuxième volet. L’erreur vient, selon moi, de ce que les auteurs s’étaient trop écartés des racines mêmes de la série. De plus, le film était sorti en plein été. Le troisième sera beaucoup proche de ce que le public attend, avec des conspirations gouvernementales, etc.“

English translation from X-Files News:

“It is being written. One awaits just the green light from Fox, a little disappointed from the relatively poor reception of the second film. The error comes, in my opinion, that the authors strayed too far from the roots of the series. Moreover, the film was released in the summer. The third will be much closer to what the public expects, with government conspiracies, etc.”

The translation is probably a little shaky, but it generally conveys what was said. XFN also says that another possible translation of the first sentence is, “It is in the process of being written.” To me, this could either convey that a script is currently being written, or that they are working on trying to get a script written in the first place.

The quote also lines up with what has been said before by X-Files creator Chris Carter about the story for XF3, which would deal with the overall alien mythology storyline from the series and first film. “Government conspiracies” would very much factor in to all of that.

Some have shown skepticism for this article, and rightly so. Until FOX or the actual writers behind the script officially confirm that something is being written, one can only hope that the report is accurate. Until then, we should still technically consider this a rumor.

However, we do know that Carter and Duchovny have been seen hanging out fairly recently, so he might know more than some people suspect. Let’s hope that some official confirmation comes our way in the days and weeks to follow!

Thanks to Patricia Silva from X-Files News for the heads up!

Update (11/07/10): Fans wrote in to X-Files producer Frank Spotnitz over at his website to ask about this explosion of news that hit the web yesterday, and here’s what he had to say:

“I’m afraid I can neither confirm nor deny. I wish I could say more, but all I can say is what I’ve said all along: Don’t give up!“

If a script is truly in the works for The X-Files 3, Spotnitz would certainly not be oblivious to it. If anyone knows about a script, it would be him. Since it is highly unlikely that Duchovny knows more than Spotnitz does, my theory is that Spotnitz knows that this bit of information from Duchovny has some truth to it, but is not allowed to say anything about it just yet.

Sure, it is still pure speculation on my part. But you also have to admit that it does seem a little suspicious that Spotnitz wouldn’t even come out and say that Duchovny’s remarks are inaccurate if there is in fact no script being worked on.

One thing is for sure though: As long as Frank Spotnitz is telling fans to not give up, then there is still hope for a third film to get off the ground. He has always chosen his words very carefully when discussing The X-Files 3, so we’ll definitely know for sure that something is or isn’t happening when he makes an official announcement.

Until then, in the words of “Father Joe” from The X-Files: I Want to Believe, “Don’t give up.”

Update #2 (11/07/10): FOX has now reported the story, and is asking on their “All Access” Blog if people want a third X-Files film! Click here to let your voice be heard!

Update #3 (11/07/10): David Duchovny’s representative told Latino Review that the French interviewer from TV Mag misunderstood Duchovny, and that he apparently did not actually say that a script is being written. She told LR that he actually said that he wouldn’t mind working with Gillian Anderson again doing another X-Files film, and that he was very proud of the first two movies.

X-Files News responded to this with another update:

“Given however the other detailed information the interviewer did have and the fact that David would be unable to confirm this type of news due to confidentiality agreements, that Frank Spotnitz will neither confirm nor deny, and that Fox All Access carried the story, XFN believes that signs are pointing to an XF3 Script and an eventual Green Light from Fox. XFN has contacted the magazine and is awaiting an official response.”

I have to agree with X-Files News on this one, in that there’s enough out there to at least raise suspicion that a third film may be approaching – especially since Frank Spotnitz didn’t outright shoot down what Duchovny said.

It is entirely possible that Duchovny’s agent is just protecting his interests, since he would be bound to a confidentiality agreement concerning anything related to a third X-Files film if there is something in the works. Sure, nothing is official, but I smell a possible Non-Disclosure Agreement here…

Update #4 (11/08/10: Looks like the French website TV Mag has changed what was originally published in their article. It has now changed to this:

“Pour l’instant, on attend le feu vert de la Fox, un peu échaudée par l’accueil relativement médiocre du deuxième volet. L’erreur vient, selon moi, de ce que les auteurs s’étaient trop écartés des racines mêmes de la série.”

A rough English translation through Google Translate:

“For now, we await the green light from the Fox, a little scalded by the relatively poor reception of the second component. The error comes, I believe that the authors had strayed too far from the very roots of the series.”

As you can see, while remnants of the original quote remain, they clearly changed what was originally put in the article about The X-Files 3. XFN points out that the printed version of the article now says the same thing as well. The parts that said that it is being written and that the film will be much closer to what the public expects have been mysteriously omitted.

At this point, it is definitely up to the reader what to make of all this. Are they just correcting a mistake? Or is Duchovny’s rep (who, by the way, was never referred to by name) covering for him because of a Non-Disclosure Agreement?

I still say there is reason to believe that it is possible that Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz are working on trying to make a third X-Files film happen, based on Spotnitz’s ambiguous comments from yesterday (See Update #1 above), and also the fact that FOX All Access has not updated their article.

Until we get official confirmation, however, speculation is all we have. Stay tuned, fellow X-Philes. The truth is out there…