A new version of The X-Files' second movie, originally released in 2008, is set to premiere on Hulu next month with a revised title. The R-rated Director's Cut of what was then titled The X-Files: I Want to Believe will be available starting August 14 under the new name, The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn. This subtitle translates to "Victor Frankenstein" in Russian, a nod to the film's reassembly.
Set six years after the conclusion of the original television series, The X-Files: I Want to Believe followed former agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they were drawn back into an FBI investigation concerning the abduction of a female agent. Creator Chris Carter had initially intended a more horror-focused film, but was reportedly asked by Fox to tone down the content to achieve a PG-13 rating. This decision ultimately irked fans of the franchise, who felt the film strayed from the show's characteristic tone.
According to Disney, this new version, The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn, will "faithfully restore the filmmaker’s original vision." Carter himself had previously discussed his desire to revisit the film, expressing that he had been compelled to cut it back further than intended to meet PG-13 requirements, even noting that television networks could be more permissive with content than theatrical releases. He stated last year on the Fail Better With David Duchovny podcast that this rerelease offered him a chance to "make the scary movie that I always intended," bringing to the screen what was originally conceived for the script.
In parallel, a separate reboot of The X-Files is reportedly in development, with Ryan Coogler attached to direct. This new iteration is expected to feature a cast including Steve Buscemi, Amy Madigan, and Ben Foster. Mulder actor David Duchovny has confirmed discussions with Coogler regarding the reboot, though his and Gillian Anderson's potential involvement remains unconfirmed. Coogler has indicated plans to incorporate both standalone "Monster of the Week" episodes and an overarching conspiracy narrative into his vision for the series.