After six years away, David Duchovny is back in the role that made him a household name. As Agent Fox Mulder, he reunites with Gillian Anderson's Agent Dana Scully and series creator Chris Carter for the new movie based on the hit television series, The X-Files, which ended because Duchonvy was tired of it. The X-Files: I Want to Believe is patterned after the stand-alone episodes in the series, so fans require little knowledge of Mulder and Scully. Here Duchovny talks about what it's like to be back.


What got you back into the X-Files?

When I left, it was because it took 10 months every year to complete. I was shooting one show, and unable to do anything else in my life or career. So it was never, 'I hate this show. I can't stand working with these people', it was always, 'Let's stop the show now because we're all tired'. And we've worked together longer than anybody else. Plus other shows, like E.R. and Law & Order change all the time. We did eight years of the same thing.

So what brought all of you together again for the film?

It was the desire that we always had to turn the TV show into a movie franchise because we didn't really want it to end. We loved the show, we loved the characters, we enjoyed working with one another. We owed each other so much and we owe so much to the characters and to the fans.

Is it becoming a movie franchise?

Well, we've done two. We'll see.

When you read the film script was it a surprise to find that you and Scully have a romantic relationship?

It was somewhat challenging. But when I first read it I thought it was a very smart idea because otherwise what you do is do what you always did. I mean, maybe we fail at doing this but at least we failed trying to make it different.

Was it weird shooting that as actors?

It wasn't weird. I don't think we actually kissed in this movie. We're just in bed. We did more kissing in the TV show than on this movie.

In the film it's more about your feelings for each other, isn't it?

Yeah. That's the difference. And Chris and Frank [Spotnitz, the producer], said that whatever comments I had about the script, this is a love story. I had my reservations, but I have to say, seeing the final movie, it is very unique in the way there's a love story playing during this thriller. They're intertwined because the issues the mystery brings up are the very issues these two people are dealing with. And I think they did a really good job of it.

Have you and Gillian kept in touch?

Not really. We've emailed and only seen each other a handful of times in six years.

And you filmed the movie on your break from Californication?

No, Californication is a 12-week season. That's one of the reasons I could go back to television – it wasn't a 10-month job.

You said in the past that you didn't want to do TV anymore. But you're on the show that got you a Golden Globe nomination. Is it strange being back?

No, it isn't. At the time that I left, it was all consuming. But now, six years later I feel I've done a bunch of other stuff that I enjoyed and proved to myself, not anybody else, that I could do other things. It wasn't an issue anymore. I would not not go back to the TV show of The X-Files. The commitment was crazy.

Is television more creative and interesting for an actor now?

Yes and I think it's been that way for a long time. Especially with the cable channels, where you don't have to please as many people as network television or movies. Film especially are made to please people aged 13 to 80. How can you do that? It's very general. On cable television, you can make the kind of work that used to be called independent cinema. What you have on cable is the freedom to do the kind of things that American movies did in the seventies. On top of that I get to do it in a 12-week season. So it's the best of both worlds.

Do you think having time away has changed you?

Yeah. I'm sure it has. I was doing an interview with Gillian yesterday and we were both asked what's different about the other. And Gillian said, David wants to be there now. That was really hard for me towards the end of the run of the series. I didn't really want to be there. I was miserable.

Do you Want to Believe too?

Yeah, I do.

In aliens?

I want to believe in other things. I'd say, 'love'.



David Duchovny

Actor


The 47-year-old American is a two-time Golden Globe Award-winning television and film actor.

He is best known for his television roles as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Showtime's ongoing series, Californication.

Born in New York City, he was first noticed as DEA Agent Dennis on the series Twin Peaks. In 1993, he began starring in the sci-fi series The X-Files as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, a conspiracy theorist who believed his sister was abducted by aliens. The show was a cult hit and quickly became one of Fox network's top draws.

His film work includes roles in the comedies Zoolander and Connie and Carla. He made his directorial debut with House of D.
Duchovny has been married to actress Téa Leoni since 1997 and has two children.