In a surprising and thrilling reveal for X-Files fans, series creator Chris Carter has announced that he’s been offered the opportunity to create a director’s cut of the 2008 film The X-Files: I Want to Believe. The announcement came during an episode of David Duchovny’s new podcast Fail Better, where Carter joined his longtime collaborator and friend for a candid conversation about the legacy of the show, creative compromises, and unfinished business.
“I just got the go ahead yesterday to do a director's cut of I Want to Believe, the second movie. And I can't tell you how excited I am about this.”
“I made it too scary and I was told so by the brass at Fox and they wanted a PG-13 movie. So we cut it back to be a PG-13 movie and we thought 'Okay, we've satisfied their demands.' The critics, the people who rate the movies, said 'No, it's not a PG-13 yet. You've got to cut it back even farther.' I can tell you that you can do more on network television,“Carter told Duchovny, speaking with rare frankness about the creative constraints he faced.
Released in 2008, I Want to Believe was the second feature-length installment of The X-Files, following 1998’s more blockbuster-oriented Fight the Future. Unlike its predecessor, the sequel adopted a darker, more introspective tone, returning to the series’ roots as a paranormal procedural with a human core. But many fans and critics noted the film felt subdued—some even disjointed—and now, Carter’s comments shed light on why.
Now, over 15 years later, Carter has been given the green light to revisit the project without the restrictions that once constrained him.
For longtime fans, this announcement is both unexpected and exciting. It’s a rare chance to see The X-Files through the lens of its creator—unedited, unfiltered, and finally unburdened by studio compromise.
Stay tuned: the truth, it seems, is still out there. And this time, it might be a little closer to what Chris Carter always wanted us to see.
