X-Files Comes to WonderCon

-- Jamie Lynn from AfterEllen.com

Last weekend at at WonderCon, a few lucky souls in San Francisco witnessed the trailer for the new X-Files movie. It remains to be seen if this is a movie that should happen — I am not a huge fan of the first — but catching a glimpse of it over at Cinematical.com, I'm sure I sat at my computer with an dorky fangirl grin on my face.  Anticipation is sweet.

Retrocrush.com was on the scene to interview Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny afterward about the movie and their post-X-Files perspectives.  Duchovny talks a lot (why am I not surprised?), but Anderson managed to get a few words in.  Here are some highlights.  And a snap judgment: Duchovny needs a haircut.

First, the news is that the movie will be a throwback to the beginning of the series; there will be mythology (as is hinted at in the trailer) but the film will be a standalone project for those who've never seen the series.  And for those who stopped watching during the last two seasons, when even Annabeth Gish wasn't enough to compensate for Scully's annoyingly endless weeping.   

No, Agent Reyes is not in the film.  But she's pretty.

One question I found interesting: "Why is the show still relevant? Why are the characters still relevant? At the time it seemed like it was a very turn-of-the-century, millennial narrative."

ANDERSON: It'd be interesting to know, if we had started the series in 2008, what would have been happening. When they started it, there was something very timely about it. Whether it would take in this day and age, I have no idea. I think that all the elements that made it what it was contribute to why it was successful, and why people are interested in seeing more of it. 

Let's see.  A show about two people searching for personal and public truths, set in a time when people distrust the government's truth-telling capacity and wonder what dirty secrets might be hidden under official policies and sugar-coated rhetoric.  Some things are just timeless.   

On whether it is frustrating to be so highly identified with a character:

ANDERSON: There's certain times when my focus has been on different things. Like at a charity event on another continent. And that's all they want to talk about, they don't want to talk about the charity event. Yeah, that gets frustrating. Or when I'm trying to promote something else and 75 percent of the interview wants to go back to the series. It's frustrating, but it is what it is. I wouldn't have the choices to do the things I want to do today if it weren't for the series. 

I do have a little sympathy for this.  And when she does open her mouth, she has to be careful.   

When asked about the experience of being at the panel and mingling with fans, both Anderson and Duchovny seem to have enjoyed the experience.  I know, what else would they say?  But it's sort of cute that they might even entertain the idea people wouldn't come out for the movie.  I mean, I knew what was coming and I still sat through Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

ANDERSON: It's a wonderful feeling to know that there's people out there who are going to show up and actually see this film when it comes out. Their enthusiasm and their desire to see it. I think that is rewarding, and a bit of a relief.

DUCHOVNY: It was always my hope that we would get to do one of these every 5 or 6 years. When I was getting off the television show I wasn't like "Screw the show, screw these characters, screw you!" I would love to keep doing it, if I could come back every now and then. I love working with Gillian, I love Chris. I love the characters. If we can pull that off, that'd be great. And if not? I'm perfectly happy with the amount of work we've done as Mulder and Scully, you know? (laughs) We've done a lot. So in a way, I felt that this was "win/win". If it continues on, then it's fantastic. If it goes away ... well, then we did a lot.

I can't imagine how the movie will play out, given the ending of the series.  Will Scully and Mulder's son, whose lame story line disappeared from the final episodes, turn up?  Will they pretend he never existed?  Will they still be on the run?  Will they be pursuing the truth?  I hope the anticipation isn't the most thrilling part of the movie, but I'm there.   Ain't It Cool News has a blow-by-blow of the WonderCon panel presentation if you want more.

Comments

[Marlene]

What do you mean that Anderson was able to get a few words in? I never saw Duchovny interrupt her. Maybe he should have since every other word that came out of her mouth was "uh". As far as the hair, The Mulder character has been on the run so it would not be FBI regulation length in MHO. And Anderson's hair is to long too.

[Baxter]

XFiles 2 trailer pulled...drat!

[Eleanore]

Having been a guest at the panel, I have to agree with Marlene above -- Duchovny answered to keep the momentum going; Anderson seemed the more tired of the pair of them. Anyway, they both looked fantastic to me, and though tired, very happy to be there.