Chris Carter has released a new director’s cut of The X-Files: I Want to Believe, retitled to include Vrach Frankenshteyn, featuring expanded sequences and a revised In Memoriam. The updated tribute sequence now honors late contributors Mark Snow, John S. Bartley, and Nicki Aycox, alongside original honoree Randy Stone.
The Bottom Line
- The New Cut: Chris Carter’s updated version of The X-Files: I Want to Believe incorporates the subtitle Vrach Frankenshteyn and expands sequences in the remote compound laboratory.
- The Expanded Tribute: Three figures—composer Mark Snow, cinematographer John S. Bartley, and actress Nicki Aycox—have been added to the film’s closing In Memoriam.
- The Original Honoree: Casting director Randy Stone remains the foundational entry of the tribute, retaining his spot from the 2008 theatrical release.
Later, Carter’s director’s cut—retitled to include Vrach Frankenshteyn—brings adjustments to the film’s pacing and visual geography.
Among the most notable structural changes is an extended sequence in the subterranean medical laboratory where victims are kept. Carter pointed specifically to the scenes involving the young woman trapped in a box, noting how physical the production was for the cast.
“There’s more in that laboratory where the young woman is trapped into the box,” Carter noted when speaking about the changes. “By the way, if you noticed in our In Memoriam, she is actually gone. Nicki Aycox has died since then. A wonderful young actress who was subjected to not only that box, but ice water. And we put her through the mill, and she was a trooper from the get-go.”
Mapping the Four Names in the Updated In Memoriam
The original 2008 theatrical cut featured a solitary tribute in its credits. The updated Vrach Frankenshteyn version expands that final slate to four distinct individuals who shaped the world of Mulder and Scully both on screen and behind the scenes.
Randy Stone, the original honoree, served as the casting director on The X-Files pilot as well as for other notable television projects including Millennium, Gimme a Break!, and Cheers. Stone passed away from heart failure on February 12, 2007, at the age of 48, during the production window leading up to the film’s initial release.
Mark Snow provided the whistling synthesizer theme that defined 1990s television science fiction. Beyond scoring the television run of The X-Files, Snow returned for both feature films, including I Want to Believe. His extensive television and film credits also included Blue Bloods, The New Mutants, Ghost Whisperer, and Smallville. Snow died of myelodysplastic syndrome on July 3, 2025, at the age of 78.
John S. Bartley shaped the visual grammar of the television series as the director of photography for its first three seasons, establishing the rain-soaked, shadowy aesthetic that became synonymous with FBI paranormal investigations. Bartley later returned as second-unit director of photography on two Season 4 episodes and on I Want to Believe. His career also spanned series like Walker: Independence, The Good Doctor, and Bates Motel. Bartley died on August 17, 2025, at the age of 78.
Nicki Aycox portrayed Cheryl Cunningham, the primary victim rescued by Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in I Want to Believe. Before starring in the feature, Aycox guest-starred in the Season 7 television episode “Rush.” Her television credits included roles in Cold Case, Supernatural, Over There, Ed, and Providence. Aycox died on November 16, 2022, at the age of 47.
| Name | Role on The X-Files | Passing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Randy Stone | Casting Director (Pilot) | February 12, 2007 |
| Nicki Aycox | Actress (Cheryl Cunningham in I Want to Believe) | November 16, 2022 |
| Mark Snow | Composer (TV Series & Films) | July 3, 2025 |
| John S. Bartley | Director of Photography (Seasons 1–3) | August 17, 2025 |
Why Director’s Cuts Modify Legacy Artifacts
What are your thoughts on directors altering credits and scenes years after release? Drop a comment below and let us know if you have caught the new cut yet.
