No word on 3rd 'X-Files' film from series creator

SAN DIEGO — The truth is out there: Don't expect a third "X-Files" film.

While series creator Chris Carter was impressed by a boisterous Comic-Con International crowd clamoring for a third big-screen venture, he remained noncommittal on the idea.

"We can get to it later," Carter said Thursday, when asked about the possibility at a panel celebrating the Fox series' 20th anniversary. The panel also featured stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, along with writers and producers.

It was not the answer the crowd was seeking about the fate of FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder. But those in the audience — including several who had camped out overnight to ensure good seats for the event — were in a forgiving mood, listening raptly as tales of the show were traded.

"The X-Files," a popular Fox television series, ran from 1993 to 2002 and spawned a pair of feature films.

While Carter was cool to the proposition of a third "X-Files" film, Duchovny and Anderson were decidedly more amenable.

"I always thought whenever we can come back together, we would, as much as we can, so we will," Duchovny said.

Asked if the show should return to television, a la "24," Anderson replied "No!" then added, "but a film would be great."

Carter noted that the series could find resonance in contemporary times.

"The suspicions and the conspiracy theories are rampant today, so I think that if 'The X-Files' were to come back now, you could do the show now," Carter said.