Out of the 'Files'

Touchstone TV sees Spotnitz as draw

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Spotnitz

"The X-Files" spookmeister Frank Spotnitz has scared up a rich seven-figure overall deal with Touchstone Television.

Pact reps a significant investment for the Disney-owned small-screen studio under newly minted Touchstone TV prexy Mark Pedowitz, who told Daily Variety he hopes to use the Spotnitz deal to lure more top talent.

"Getting Frank signifies we're here to stay ... (and) adds a lot of credibility to the studio," Pedowitz said. "He's the sort of A-plus writer everyone wants to be in business with, and he's basically been in business with 20th Century Fox for years. And he's a good magnet to attract other people to come to the studio."

Deal, which includes provisions for multiple years, calls for Spotnitz to create series programming for Touchstone and possibly supervise other scribes.

Spotnitz was one of the key creative forces on Chris Carter's "X-Files," from the show's second season all the way until its ninth year in 2001, penning dozens of episodes of the skein (many with Carter). Spotnitz also collaborated with Carter on "Millennium"; "Harsh Realm"; and "The Lone Gunmen," which he co-created.

Touchstone exec VP Julia Franz called Spotnitz one of the "couple of heavy hitters we need to build our roster."

"What Frank and his fellow writers did on 'The X-Files' really helped define the modern one-hour drama," she said.

Spotnitz said he has spoken to execs at Touchstone on and off over the last few years, including former studio head Steve McPherson, who now runs ABC Entertainment.

"ABC is a network with a lot of possibilities and freedom right now, and I'm hoping to do something really unique," Spotnitz said.

Spotnitz's skills writing procedural drama make it likely he'll focus on that genre for his first at-bat for Touchstone.

"I love doing the type of storytelling we did on 'X-Files,' trying to be a little movie every week and not being like everything else that is on TV," he added. "That'll be my goal for whatever I do there."

In addition to his eight years on "X-Files," Spotnitz teamed with Carter on the story for the feature film adaptation. A second pic is in the works, though nothing's official yet.

Spotnitz and Carter are co-writing and producing the upcoming feature "A Philosophical Investigation," which Carter will direct (Daily Variety, July 13).

After leaving 20th, Spotnitz -- whose deal was put together by Endeavor and attorney Ken Richman -- exec produced Michael Mann's short-lived but well-regarded CBS crime drama "Robbery Homicide Division" via Universal.