When we last heard an update on X-Files 2, Rob Bowman — who directed Fight the Future and hopes to helm the sequel — said the project was waiting on a script from Chris Carter, creator of the X-Files and Millennium television series. Bowman also suggested that the new film would be a stand-alone story, rather than continuing the conspiracy theme of the show's later seasons and X-Files: Fight the Future.

We're still waiting on that script, but it sounds like someone's going to get going on it soon. According to Sci Fi Wire, Frank Spotnitz has taken on the job of producing a screenplay for the X-Files sequel. Spotnitz was a producer on the TV show and also wrote several of its episodes. He's been connected to the X-Files sequel in previous reports as well.

Though no script exists yet, Spotnitz said that an idea for the movie has been fleshed out already. And confirming what Bowman said earlier, it will not tie into the alien conspiracy storyline, conforming instead to the show's earlier one-story-per-episode format of the show.

"No, we're not going into the mythology [again]. One of the things that was exciting about doing it is to not make it a mythology story, and it's like one of the stand-alone episodes. It's a bit scary. Of course, we will catch up with the characters and what is going on in their lives, but it's not about the alien conspiracy."

Although both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have long professed their willingness to return to X-Files, other problems continue to hold up production. In addition to having no screenplay, legal wrangling between Fox and Carter have kept the project stalled. Spotnitz tried to cast the issue in an optimistic light:

"David, Gillian and I, and even Chris Carter, all have deals in place, and once the legal issues are over with, we will go on with it. I'm hoping it will get resolved soon."