I don’t really want to believe that something as cool as the upcoming X-Files sequel has a title such as The X-Files: I Want to Believe, but alas it is true. At least, it is true if you believe the words of series creator and movie writer/director Chris Carter. Carter told the Associated Press today that the second go-round of Mulder and Scully would have the aforementioned title.

Commenting on the title, Carter said: “”It’s a natural title. It’s a story that involves the difficulties in mediating faith and science. `I Want to Believe.’ It really does suggest Mulder’s struggle with his faith.”

As well, the story from AP writer David Germain states that this second X-Files film will be a stand-alone, earth-bound story that will be inviting to both die hard fans and newcomers alike.

Expected date: 7/25/2008

Here is a exerpt from the director:

“It has struck me over the last several years talking to college-age kids that a lot of them really don’t know the show or haven’t seen it,” Carter said. “If you’re 20 years old now, the show started when you were 4. It was probably too scary for you or your parents wouldn’t let you watch it. So there’s a whole new audience that might have liked the show. This was made to, I would call it, satisfy everyone.”

Hardcore fans need not worry that the movie will be going back to square one, though, Carter said. The movie will be true to the spirit of the show and everything Mulder and Scully went through, he said.

“The reason we’re even making the movie is for the rabid fans, so we don’t want to insult them by having to take them back through the concept again,” Carter said.

See how he did most tricks HERE

Toshiba put HD-DVD out of its misery today. Reuters confirmed this afternoon that it will cease manufacturing HD-DVD equipment, following earlier reports from Japan’s NHK public broadcasting network.

This leaves Blu-Ray as the presumptive victor in the irrelevant optical disk format war. It now must face up to the real competition: the continuing success of DVD and the growing popularity of downloads, both on the internet and on-demand cable TV.

The end comes only a day after Wal-Mart announced it would no longer carry HD-DVD stuff. This will go a long way to confirming the view, long-held by cynics, that the mega-retailer always held the executioner’s axe to begin with, and was merely waiting until it was clear which format’s camp had the most densely-stuffed brown envelopes to throw at Hollywood.

Keep in mind there is 30 times the HD DVD players in the market then Blue Ray  More news from the format war today, and it isn’t good for the red camp. Daily Variety has confirmed that Universal’s agreement to stick with HD DVD has ended and has not been renewed. Additionally, Paramount has an escape clause in its contract that can be exercised following Warner’s departure from the (now dwindling) HD DVD ranks. The article highlights various ongoing commitments both companies have to the format, but we’ve heard these kind of promises before from studios. It’s feeling like a party where everyone leaves at once; nobody wants to be the first out the door, but everyone’s looking in that direction.