TVSquad

I didn't think going into the weekend that the new X-Files movie (see Cinematical's review) had much of a shot at opening at number one. After the opening that the new Batman enjoyed the previous weekend, it was going to be a tough mountain to climb. That being said, I didn't think number two was an overly ambitious goal. And number three would have been a bit surprising. But number four and $10.2 million? Yikes.

As expected, The Dark Knight once again topped the box office with the biggest second weekend on record. Surprisingly though, Mulder and Scully also trailed Step Brothers and the second week of Mama Mia. The B word is already being tossed around, understandably so. Despite that, studio executives are standing by to assure everyone that with foreign box office and DVD the movie will still turn a profit. That's all well and good, but I don't think anyone should be getting their hopes up for round three any time soon.

X-Files fans rejoice: the sequel really is going to happen. In fact, they've already started filming!

On the right is one of the first pics from the set. David Duchovny has his Fox Mulder hair back, while Gillian Anderson seems to be sporting a new do. But I'll stop talking about hair right now because it's weird.

Creator/director Chris Carter says that they're completely dumping the whole alien mythology storyline from the show, since they already "wrapped up a lot of threads" from the show (really?). Instead, the new flick will settle on a standalone plot, which will not only please old fans but also the new fans that Carter is trying to hook into the movie.

Our friends at sister site Cinematical have some good news for any remaining fans of The X-Files: a second theatrical film, which star David Duchovny has been talking about making for a few years now, is closer to being a reality. During a set visit to Duchovny's currently shooting film The TV Set, IESB.net found out from the actor that negotiations are currently in their final stages, and that the film should start filming in 2008 or sooner.

According to IESB, Duchovny had mentioned the possibility of a second X-Files movie in 2005; instead of an alien conspiracy plot, though, Scully and Mulder would be engaged in a "standalone supernatural horror film," as IGN reported back then. That's probably a good idea, since the series ended five years ago (and most people stopped watching soon after the first movie frustrated die-hard fans way back in 1998). Continuing the conspiracy storyline would feel like they were beating the pile of dog food that the dead horse was made into. Though I wouldn't mind seeing a glimpse of the Cigarette Smoking Man again...