Ellen Gray | Movies in the works for 'Sex and the City' and 'X-Files'

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Just because actors used to seeing their faces in close-ups 30 feet high are turning to television in search of projects that put character before car chases doesn't mean some of their TV counterparts don't still suffer from screen envy.

How else to explain - other than the prospect of a big payday, of course - why the cast of "Sex and the City" has decided to stage its reunion at the multiplex?

As some fans fret about whether the film will be big enough to encompass Mr. Big (Chris Noth), I'm wondering whether it can possibly remain small enough to keep artistic control where it belongs - with the artists who made it in the first place.

Because no one wants to see the fates of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha determined by a focus group.

They're not the only ones refusing to leave well enough alone.

The people behind "The X-Files," which already had one shot at movie stardom, apparently think the truth is still out there in the land of $4 popcorn and stadium seating.

David Duchovny, here promoting his new Showtime series, "Californication," at the Television Critics Association's summer meetings, this weekend revealed that hopes for a second film about FBI partners Fox Mulder and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are far from dead.

"I'm supposed to see a script next week," he said.

"Chris [Carter] has written it with Frank Spotnitz, and Chris will direct it," Duchovny said. "And Gillian's on board and I'm on board, and that's all I can tell you. I mean, I'm looking forward . . . to seeing what he did."

After the news conference, a reporter reminded Duchovny that there's long been talk of another "X-Files" movie and asked what's different now.

"I'm supposed to see it next week," he said. "Before, I would just say that because they told me [to], but now, you know, I've been talking to Chris, and he's been giving me progress reports and he actually called yesterday and said, 'You know, next week you should have something to read.' "

As for the shooting schedule, "I think it was November, for a summer release."

But if Duchovny seemed unusually forthcoming - at least to those of us who remember the days when "X-Files" creator Carter would whisper enigmatic hints to reporters who'd later realize they hadn't learned a thing - his "Californication" co-star, Evan Handler, was the soul of discretion.

Handler, who played the husband of Charlotte (Kristin Davis) in "Sex and the City," was asked if he'd been approached about the movie, and whether his new show's shooting schedule might conflict.

"As far as my understanding of that film and where it stands now and the proposed dates for it, my work in this show won't prevent me from it," Handler said. "And as far as whether I've been approached, I know that if I had been approached I would have been asked not to say that I've been approached."

If you've seen the promos - or even just heard the title - you've probably guessed that that kind of discretion's not going to be a big part of "Californication," in which Duchovny stars as a novelist who develops a writing block after his good book's made into a bad movie. His longtime companion (Natascha McElhone), the mother of his daughter (Madeleine Martin), has left him, and he's doing a considerable amount of bed-hopping, interspersed with moping.

And according to New York Daily News critic (and TV historian) David Bianculli, Duchovny makes history in the pilot by becoming the first male TV lead to have sex with a minor. (I'm assuming that minors who have sex with other minors don't count, or half the shows on the old WB would've qualified.)

"There's two things I gotta do," replied Duchovny when informed of this dubious achievement. "One is, I gotta update my resume."

Pause.

"And then, I have to call my mother."

Think a guy like that's going to be safe anywhere but television?

I don't think so.

Daily News TV critic Ellen Gray (graye@phillynews.com) is covering the Television Critics Association's summer meetings in Beverly Hills. For more, see her blog at go.philly.com/ellengray or join her at 11 a.m. tomorrow on philly.com, where she and Inquirer TV critic Jonathan Storm will be hosting an online chat.