David Duchovny talks X Files

QUESTION: Is Mulder a changed person, six years later, from being on the run?
DUCHOVNY: You'll have to see. In my experience things don't change that much. Character doesn't change.

QUESTION: How excited were you to get back in to the character?
DUCHOVNY: I was very excited to do it and then as the day approached nearer I started to wonder if I needed to work more to get back into character and so then there was a certain amount of fear.

QUESTION: When you were doing the show, you became involved in writing scripts and co-writing scripts with Chris Carter. Did you have any input in the writing of this script?
DUCHOVNY: I wasn't involved in the conception or the writing of it. It is a tightly plotted thriller and if you have a tightly plotted thriller there is not a lot of rewriting that should be done. It's not a form that tolerates improvisation and it was well enough put together when it was presented, and Gillian and I thought there was really nothing to add in that way.

QUESTION: You directed some episodes and you also went on to direct a film. How interested would you be, if there is a next X-Files, in taking the helm of that?
DUCHOVNY: I would be interested, but it is not in my wheel house to direct a big action film like this. I would feel out of my element - which is probably a good thing. I wouldn't offer it to me! I might be interested in directing an action film but I don't think it would be wise for me to direct myself in an action film or to screw around with this actual franchise. I feel there are other opportunities for me to direct and I have other interests.

QUESTION: Coming back to the X-Files, do you worry about being typecast?
DUCHOVNY: I gave up a while ago worrying about the whole phenomenon of typecasting once I realized that it happens across the board .Comedy actors get trapped in there and dramatic actors can't do comedy. I don't worry about it - and I think what overcomes that is my love for the show and belief in its legitimacy as an interesting movie franchise.

QUESTION: Can you speak about your character and why people love the character?
DUCHOVNY: That's more for you to figure out. I always liked that he was so narrow minded in his pursuit and I think that's attractive. I think people respect that in somebody and I think they also know you are in for a quest or cause -- he is a guy on a quest. And he's never a drag, which that kind of character could easily be.

QUESTION: Do you lose your gun?
DUCHOVNY: I can't answer that...I am sure if I ever get my hands on a gun you can be pretty sure somebody will take it out of my hands.

QUESTION: How is your relationship with Gillian now, is it very different from what it was during the series?
DUCHOVNY: It's very good and yes it is probably different in that we are both not exhausted all the time.

QUESTION: Do you still share a sense of discovery or is there a sense that everything is easy and comfortable?
DUCHOVNY: I think there is a real feeling that we don't just want to cash in on the past, we all want to do something new and we all want to make it good. We don't want to throw a piece of crap out there and have people go look at it for nostalgia's sake.

QUESTION: Do you think this film strikes a balance between referencing the series and making it accessible to people who have never seen X-Files?
DUCHOVNY: I think this movie is much more accessible to the non-fan in terms of story, plot and everything else.

QUESTION: I heard that some of the fans where exhausted towards the end of the series. Do you think the movie will bring those fans back into X-Files mode?
DUCHOVNY: There were nine years of one-hours .I can't think of another show that did that with the same cast. So the exhaustion was mutual (laughs). I would think if they fell in love with the show for the premise and the characters, the execution and the writing - well that is what I think we are back to.

QUESTION: How scary does this movie get?
DUCHOVNY: It's very scary. It is pretty dark and there is some nasty stuff going on.

QUESTION: What people also like about Mulder is his dry sense of humour, do we see much of that in this film?
DUCHOVNY: Yes, there is a place for that... and I think it is an essential part of the character.

QUESTION: When episodes of the old show come on, do you watch them or do you flee?
DUCHOVNY: I don't run, but I don't seek them out. I am not a by appointment television watcher, I sit down in front of it and if something happens to be on I watch it. So therefore I leave myself open to sometimes watching an X-Files because I will be flicking around and come across it.

QUESTION: You played the character for over a decade. What do you find is the best thing about Mulder for you? And what are the challenges for you?
DUCHOVNY: Well I think it is that kind of single minded not taking "no" for an answer, he never gives up. He's a quest hero and that's not something we get to do in real life. The challenges are to bring in the humanity...to bring in the humour or to bring in side interests...to make the guy three dimensional.

QUESTION: There is so much secrecy surrounding this film...is it because the fans are out there clamoring for every bit of information or is it because Chris Carter is a secretive guy and he doesn't want anything to get out there?
DUCHOVNY: It is a little bit of both I think. Chris wants it to be a surprise.

DUCHOVNY: Was it fun working with Billy Connolly on this movie?
DUCHOVNY: He is fantastic. A terrific guy and a terrific actor. He's just a great person to be around and always interesting and energetic and funny off set - and great in the character he is playing. I can't understand a word he is saying (laughs), but he seems to be a very nice guy.