TRUE BELIEVERS! THE GRAPHIC NOVEL RETURN OF 'THE X-FILES'

Faith and dedication: Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) head into the comic universe for more sci-fi/horror adventures. Images: 20TH CENTURY FOX/IDW PUBLISHING.

There may not be any signs (yet) of a live action film or TV series return/continuance for those paranormal investigating, alien invasion fighting FBI heroes, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as so iconically played with warmth, heroism and occasional oddball humour by David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, but fans can at least celebrate the shows 20th anniversary this year with a brand new comic series from IDW PUBLISHING, written by respected fan and storyteller Joe Harris, illustrated by Michael Walsh, and, most importantly, given the official seal of approval by the series creator Chris Carter (who's also coming up with story ideas and maintaining series continuity cannon),  which takes place after the events of the duo's second theatrical movie, the under-rated I WANT TO BELIEVE, and leads into the planned colonisation/Armageddon towards Earth by those black oil possessed grey aliens seen on and off during the original series impressive, and now legendary, nine season run. Also promised in the book series are standalone adventures that will capture the atmosphere and variety of the series, hopefully with lots of intriguing and intriguing new monsters and horrific transmogrification's, plus an explanation of just what happened to THE X FILES successor agents, tough realist John Doggett and spiritualist Monica Reyes (played on screen by Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish) after the events of the original finale 2002 episode. And, even though they're dead, expect a return of some kind from those three charming computer nerds/ conspiracy theorists, The Lone Gunmen.

One of the excellent covers for the new comic series.

Officially regarded as the shows "tenth season", with Mulder and Scully back in the FBI after friends and associates linked to the FBI are slowly but surely being killed off, the truth is still out there, waiting to be uncovered more than ever, starting from June 19th...

A FRESH START FOR A CLASSIC SERIES? 'THE X-FILES' COMES TO BLU-RAY

In their investigative prime: FBI agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) in THE X-FILES. Image: FOX.

The recent trailblazing success of CBS PARAMOUNT's STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION's release in beautiful and viewer acclaimed high definition Blu-ray has meant that other studios are now looking at their vaults and seeing what potential classic TV hits can be adapted to the format and generate further income. And it looks as if FOX will be getting out the big guns first, sometime in 2013, with the so-far rumoured release of THE X-FILES season by season, in what will surely be a labour of love job, ditching the fuzzy film to video converted prints of old and presenting pristine made on film transfers, going back to the original camera negatives and starting from scratch, along with new or upgraded optical effects. The series wasn't made in widescreen until Season Five, but who cares when the potential picture quality of those early best seasons will look sooo much better, and with the kind of presentation they should have had when they originally aired. The chance for additional behind the scenes material should also be eagerly anticipated.

Here's also hoping that THE X-FILES gets the kind of sales success that might help jump start the franchise back into live-action motion, what with the recent desires of creator Chris Carter and the cast to do one more movie-hopefully with FOX giving them a bigger, better production budget this time, and with a storyline that hearkens back to the original tone of the series and the alien conspiracy. Or perhaps something entirely new with nods to the past?

The truth remains to be found...

UNFINISHED BUSINESS. WILL 'THE X-FILES' RETURN?

Just the two of us? Agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) take on a worldwide conspiracy in the iconic THE X-FILES. Image: FOX.

The evil and intimidating Cancer Man's predictions of an end of the world alien attack on planet Earth on December 21st, 2012 will surely and sadly fail to materialise on cinema multiplex screens any time soon, but those champions of the truth who fought against him so valiantly for nine seasons, determined ex-FBI agents Agents Fox Mulder and his lovely partner Dana Scully, might possibly and hopefully return in the not too distant future for another big-screen adventure into the heart of the unknown. After a few years way from playing their respective and iconic roles, and with the sad failure of the last THE X-FILES movie, the very under-rated I Want to Believe, which many thought was too low budget and too intimately small scale to be released as a summer tent-pole movie for the blockbuster period (where so many Hollywood films face off for box office receipts and glory), lead stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson-both of whom currently have fine careers flitting between film and TV- have on a personal and professional level understandably begun to miss playing the characters they brought to life so well under the aegis of series creator Chris Carter and producer Frank Spotnitz (whose new work on the BBC ONE action/thriller series HUNTED, starring Melissa George (and the next evolutionary step up from the popular SPOOKS), will make its premiere soon).

And we miss them, too! M and S's first big screen appearance in FIGHT THE FUTURE proved a big success worldwide, and showed tremendous future potential to take the series in bigger, bolder directions for drama, horror and action set-pieces. So much so that it may have been a mistake to have continued the series on the small screen beyond its sixth year, in the light of such a positive and solid response to their cinematic debut. Considering such past creative accomplishments in its TV life cycle and a worldwide fan base that could be reactivated, alongside the right kind of storytelling taking it in to the next decade, it's easy to see why the shows loyal crew in front of and behind the camera are enthusiastic and willing to return and continue the dangerous game that is fighting the menace of the contagious Black Oil-whose alien infections and influence during early prehistoric history on Earth would launch the key aspects of the series mythology and help X truly mark the spot!

All its needs now is some faith and commitment from FOX, and some executive suits who realise there's plenty of life left in the format and its characters.

Over to you...


All of THE X-FILES- it's movies and the spin-off THE LONE GUNMEN, plus the separate Chris Carter created MILLENNIUM- are available on DVD.