Nearly two decades after its release, The X-Files: I Want to Believe may be getting a new life on streaming. The 2008 film marked the second and last feature based on the hit TV series created by Chris Carter. It brought FBI agents Mulder and Scully back together to track a missing agent after a former priest claimed to have psychic visions tied to the case.
The film was meant to play like a long standalone episode, focused on a single case instead of the larger alien mythology. That approach did not connect with audiences the same way the first movie did. The 1998 film earned about $189 million worldwide, while The X-Files: I Want to Believe finished with roughly $69 million at the global box office.
Since then, the franchise has mostly lived on television, with revival seasons and continued fan interest. The movie did receive a home release with a few added scenes, but that version stopped short of a true Director’s Cut. Now, it appears Carter may finally deliver the version he originally wanted.
As reported by Bloody Disgusting, Disney+ released a June 2026 preview that includes what it calls a “Bonus Feature” tied to The X-Files: I Want to Believe, set to arrive on June 11. While the listing is vague, it lines up with Carter’s recent comments about revisiting the film with a darker cut.
In a 2025 interview on the Fail Better With David Duchovny podcast, Carter said he had approval to create a new version of the movie. He explained that the original cut was toned down after studio pressure to meet a PG-13 rating. “I made it too scary,” Carter said, adding that Fox executives pushed for cuts, followed by further reductions from ratings boards.
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Carter argued that television standards at the time were more flexible than film ratings, which limited what he could show. He said the new cut would restore material that never made it to the screen. “Now I have a chance to go back and make the scary movie that I always intended to make,” Carter said.
The Disney+ listing raises questions about how the new version will be presented. It could be included as an extra alongside the theatrical cut, or it could signal a full release under a different label. Either way, the timing suggests fans may finally see a version closer to Carter’s original vision.
The move also reflects a larger trend in Hollywood. Studios are leaning on older franchises to drive streaming growth, even when past installments underperformed. With built-in audiences and recognizable titles, platforms like Disney+ are betting that updated cuts and exclusive content can pull viewers back in.
For longtime fans of Mulder and Scully, June 11 could bring a second chance for a film that many felt never reached its full potential.
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English (US) · 