Frank Spotnitz' statement on XF3

[GillyDreamer78]

March 27th, 2012
XF3

Since The X-Files: I Want to Believe was released more than three years ago, the question I have been asked most often is, “When is the next X-Files movie coming?”

The box-office performance of the last film has made it difficult to answer. Some people said the audience just wasn’t there anymore. Others blamed the subject matter, the relatively modest budget, the lack of promotion, the release date, or the movie itself.

But wherever the finger of blame was pointed, I told everyone and anyone who would listen that it would be a mistake to count out The X-Files. “Don’t give up,” I kept saying, echoing the line Father Burke told Scully in the last film.

Support from fans around the world, frequently spearheaded by the amazing team at XFilesNews.com, has been unwavering. Time and again, X-Philes have mounted imaginative and powerful campaigns to get the studio’s attention – to remind 20th Century Fox that they are sitting on one of the greatest franchises in history, a creative and commercial gold mine that has been left languishing.

Now we are only eight months away from December 2012, the series’ fabled date for alien colonization. I wish I could write today to announce that a script has been written, or even commissioned. Despite my cheerleading, cajoling and plain nagging these past few years, that is not the case.

But I am not writing today to say I am giving up.

I am writing to say it is not too late to make a third X-Files movie.

I am writing to say I still believe the audience is out there for an epic film that would bring to a close the series’ rich and complex alien storyline.

I am writing to say leaving the last chapter of this great story untold is a terrible shame and great waste.

I am writing to say I won’t give up.

And I hope you won’t, either.

http://biglight.com/blog/xf3-5/
_________________________________________________________________________________
No script?? I think I heard/read enough.

[the host]

I was thinking the same thing. Despite Frank's nice words, XF3 looks further than before to me:(

[Agent Skulder]

I wonder what provoked Spotnitz to write this? It's not as though a big meeting that we all knew about just took place, or an important announcement date just passed. One thought is that he and others (possibly at FOX) may be tiring of fielding XF3 questions, especially after numerous "successful" XF3 campaigns have been waged.

Based on early feedback to his statement on various pages, his comments are already being taken out of context. Because people want resolution, and because he's known for irony, some are viewing his very clear letter like a magician's misdirection - that "no script" actually means that, as if by magic, one will be generated and greenlit when everyone least expects it. Which is NOT what he said.

I'm glad someone from TXF team finally published something. It's important to note that nothing's changed as a result of Spotnitz's statement. As with all Hollywood franchises, if & when TPTB are ready to move forward with another film, they will. And as with all older series that still boast a fan base, fans will continue to watch reruns & DVDs, rehash plot points in forums, and watch new work by former cast & crew.

[LondonLady]

I think that the statement is more hopeful than discouraging. The fact that Frank Spotnitz himself won't give up is an excellent sign. I agree with him that it's not too late for a "The X Files 3" film. I think that a blockbuster next Summer might draw a larger audience than a film this December, in the middle of the Christmas season. We have to remember that 22/12/2012 is only the start of the alien invasion. We don't have to have a film about the first day of battle. A film set during the middle of the war would actually be more interesting, and present more opportunities for storylines.

[GillyDreamer78]

To me it sounds that Frank is the one who's giving up. I'm sorry but I just don't see anything hopeful in Frank's message, not at this point anyway. Call me pessimistic if you want.Of course he can't just come and say, there's no script and that's it, he has to add his famous, "Don't give up" line.
Let me quote someone from Livejournal's blog:

mosinging1986
At this point, I feel like they are just stringing us along. They are the ones who have the ability to make the movie! We can want it and ask for it and beg for it, but we can't really do anything concrete to make it happen.

If they wanted to do it, the script would at least be started by now.

Exactly. I agree with everything but especially with the last statement. They haven't even started writing the script. And I hate FOX but with all those petitions and Twitter campaigns for FOX to green light the third movie, one has to wonder, how can they green light the film when there is no script, nothing, just lots of "Don't give up's".
And one more thing, if I remember correctly, Cris Carter said last July at the IBG event that the script was being written. Even Gillian spent almost the entire summer answering questions re XF3 when her main priority was to promote "Johnny English Reborn". And I remember very well that in all the interviews she had done at that time, she said something like: "There is talk about it, I heard the script was beeing written but FOX will have the final say". Now Frank comes and says there's no script being written, or even commissioned.
Yes, people involved still want to make XF3 but that is not all it takes. And I agree with Frank, don't think I don't, that there is still time for a third film but they might run out of time.The longer we wait, less and less fans will care about another film.
We all blame FOX but to be fair, it's not just their fault, is it. If they want to green light the third movie, then somebody should start writing a script. That would be a good place to start.

ETA:
Since we are talking about this, here is what Gillian said in her latest interview about the possibility of another XF film.

“If a good script comes along for another film, then I’m up for it and so is David. So is [creator] Chris [Carter]. I don’t see any reason not to do it if the script is good and Fox wants to go ahead and put the money behind it. Now I don’t know if there’s a script, I don’t know whether Fox is even remotely interested, so it’s completely out of my hands. But I’d be up for it.”

[LondonLady]

Well, at least Gillian and David are still interested, thank God!

Maybe there was a script being written last July, but it was never completed because there was no need to do so, since no green light was even indicated, let alone actually given.

[LondonLady]

Also, a long period of time between two films does not necessarily mean that people will lose interest. Furthermore, there will always be new people who become interested in a franchise. For example, "The Terminator" came out in 1984. "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" came out seven years later, in 1991. Then, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" came out in 2003. That's twelve years after T2! Each film was highly successful, and I don't think that the Terminator franchise was ever as popular as, "The X Files." So, I believe that when "The X Files 3" is eventually released, there will still be an audience for it.

Another factor to consider is that there have been so many films about aliens in the past few years, with more to come this year. "District 9;" "Skyline;" "Cowboys and Aliens;" and "Battle: Los Angeles" are just a few of them, not to mention, "Men in Black III" coming later this year. Therefore,
"The X Files 3" being released next Summer, and thereby avoiding "The Dark Knight" rubbish this Summer, could be a huge success.

[TruthIsOutThere]

While a bit disappointing (that no script has been made), I think we should do as Frank says and not give up. And just because an actual script hasn't been commissioned or written, doesn't mean that CC and FS haven't given it thought, or discussed it, or ruminated on the possibilities. As LondonLady said (a point I've been making for years now), there's nothing that says that we have to see 12/22/2012 on that date (cool as that might be).

It would indeed be probably far more interesting to start things in media res, and to show a flashback to that historic date. That's what they did with The Walking Dead, and to me that adds far more mystery and intrigue (very TXF), and is far more compelling than something so direct.

Besides, who here really wants to see a movie just full of explosions and chases (like every other 'alien invasion' movie)? Sure a bit of that would be fun, but I think what we really want to see is our beloved characters and how they deal with this ultra-powerful alien menace that lurked in the shadows in the series for so many years.

[LondonLady]

Truth, I agree with everything that you said above.

I think that this comment is especially true: It would indeed be probably far more interesting to start things in media res, and to show a flashback to that historic date. That's what they did with, "The Walking Dead," and to me that adds far more mystery and intrigue (very TXF), and is far more compelling than something so direct.

[Agent Skulder]

I just realized this thread was in General... We have some overlap in the XF3 forum which is fine, since The Third Film has been driving most X-Files activity for the past couple of years.

Here's the a link to Spotnitz's most recent response to a letter published at BigLight, with excerpts from the original letter (it's thesis length); FS's reply is in full.[/i]
http://biglight.com/blog/an-unspeakable-truth/

April 14th, 2012
An Unspeakable Truth? ... [EXCERPTS]
Mr. Spotnitz,

This has being brewing for many months now and I think it is important that you post it as, although it is only the personal speculation of one extremely avid fan, on what I conceive can possibly happen or not happen for The X-Files now, I feel it needs saying and is actually what a lot of fans, when not kidding themselves, will be thinking, or trying to articulate in their minds and to each other:

It now seems that the mark has been, tragically, missed.

I am crushed as I write this as a long time & avid fan of The X-Files; 10 years have we waited, our excitement, anticipation, and hope worked up to fever pitch over the last few years as the specifically stated date, December 22nd 2012,the all essential end to our story, draws nearer. But after what has been stated today by your good self it becomes clear that this dated event will, once unimaginably, simply not happen and be met, due to some real life bullsh*t studio financial technicality or whatever. I can not help but take this update as the revaltion of an absolute travesty, the outcome of which is genuinely totally apalling and so disappointing…

I know you would never give your own game away but please, if there is any ... possibility that some feature other than a full-blown feature film ...  may be made and released ...  by December 2012, rather than after, then please, I beg you, let it be known in some small way, however cryptic (Don’t Give Up won’t quite cut it anymore).

This is a sad day for The X-Files. Please, please, PLEASE, let there be hope…

Daniel
England

FROM SPOTNITZ

Daniel, I smiled at the “phantom” movie idea — that’s a notion worthy of an X-Files fan! Unfortunately, there’s no truth to it — all the projects we’ve been working on are real, and there is no secret X-Files movie (on TV, DVD or for theatrical release) ready to be released by December 2012. I wish there was.

I wouldn’t still be cheerleading for a third X-Files movie if I thought it was too late. There remains a powerful creative and commercial argument for a third X-Files feature film. And when it finally gets made, don’t worry. It will kick ass.

[LondonLady]

I read Daniel's letter in its entirety on Big Light, and Frank's response. If Frank himself is still campaigning for a third feature film, because he thinks that it's still a real possibility, well, then, I don't think that we should give up, either.

[Agent Skulder]

Agreed.

At least now, people can stop their frenzied focusing on the Dec 21 (or 22), 2012 date as THE DATE for a release.

[LondonLady]

Exactly. We don't have to have a film set on the date that the alien invasion begins. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, that a film set some time during the invasion could, in fact, be much more exciting and action-packed.

[JeSouhaite]

I have to add to this... the mayan's calendar does not coincide with the calendar that we use today; therefore, the actual 2012 date resides in the future... so there are possibilities.

[LondonLady]

That's interesting, JeSou. So, who came up with the 22nd December 2012 date, then? How did they arrive at that specific date?