David Duchovny on Life After The X-Files and New Film Adam the First
Boomers know him from The X Files. Millennials know him from Californication. David Lynch die-hards know him from Twin Peaks. The list goes on, but at the moment, veteran actor David Duchovny has a memorable role in a new film from writer-director Irving Franco (Cheerleader).
Adam the First follows the titular young boy as he journeys across the U.S. searching for his real dad. Duchovny does much with his supporting role, especially since it kicks off the film and sets the thought-provoking tone. He plays James, a sort of father figure for young Adam (Oakes Fegley), who gives the boy a bit of a reality check, setting in motion the adventure to come. We recently caught up with Duchovny for a wide-ranging interview about some of his career highlights and more.
Adam the First is small-scale stuff, especially compared to Duchovny's big-budget projects over the years, but the subject matter here still packs a punch. It came to Duchovny during the pandemic, so he was ready to go after the industry sort of ground to a halt in the early days of COVID-19. "There was something almost biblical about it," said Duchovny. "I haven't really done anything like this, in a movie with this particular tone, because [director] Irving... was trying to make an origin story of some kind... And I really respected that. I thought that's difficult to do, but I'm happy to try and give him what he needs. It's not a huge role. It's kind of done after the first 20 pages... There was also stuff that I hadn't done before, playing a guy from that part of the world and that kind of stuff. So I found it to be a nice challenge."
This new movie is certainly a drama, but those who know Duchovny's style might be surprised when he doesn't sneak in any sort of comedy here. We had to ask, therefore, whether he prefers drama or comedy these days. "When I was first coming off of The X Files, I really thought, 'OK, I've got to do some comedy because this feels like people only know me in this kind of FBI role or straight-laced role,'" he said. "But I think Truly Like Lightning, a book I wrote, a series I'm trying to develop, that's a very dramatic role. As an actor, I guess I'm always trying to bring that out the opposite side of whatever it is into it, smuggle some comedy into a drama and vice versa."
Speaking of that well-known show dating back to the '90s, there is a new X Files series in development, so we were curious if Duchovny would be interested in revisiting his iconic Mulder persona. "That show can expand at any moment. I mean, I think it's evergreen, really," he said. "They could do a reboot without us, and that would work, too. I think the show could always work... When we went back and did the other two [spinoff movies], I mean, for me, it was always the challenge of, 'How do you play this guy that many years later?' I mean, it was an interesting challenge. I started playing this guy almost 30 years ago, 25 years ago, and you can't play him the same way; he can't be written quite the same way. And that's interesting to me. So, I suppose as the years continue by, that could be an interesting question... And with a younger cast, I could be like Charlie from Charlie's Angels."
And then there's Hank Moody, the beloved protagonist/antihero of Californication. With other shows like Monk and Deadwood getting their own spinoff TV movies, one has to think about the potential for Californication in that capacity. Said Duchovny when we asked if he'd ever do it:
"Oh, of course. But I think, culturally, we've entered into a tricky place for that show... I think the changes in culture are warranted for sure... But then I always thought the show was about something else. I always thought it was about the heart of the family there and that kind of humor. But that's me shouting against the prevailing winds. So if your question is, would I want to do it, the answer would be yes. I mean, I love working with those people. I love Tom Kapinos and Natascha [McElhone] , Pamela [Adlon], Evan [Handler] and all those people. Yes, for sure. I'd love to go back to work with them."
Among Duchovny's other notable roles in years past was his return to the transgender character Denise in Twin Peaks. "I told those clowns to fix their hearts or die" was Duchovny's favorite line from the show, he told us, which Denise's FBI colleague (played by Lynch himself) says at one point, in reference to Denise's coming out as a woman. Duchovny makes a lovely cameo in the third season that aired on Showtime back in 2017. He told us:
It was just so satisfying because, first of all, Lynch is unique. He's just a consciousness unto himself... So when it came through at the time, I think I was I was doing Aquarius at the time. And I had one day where I was gonna go down and shoot that scene with David. But it was just such an occasion for me to kind of feel gratitude... I auditioned for that role like anybody else and didn't think I was gonna get it, just like I would at any time at that point in my career, and got it without really knowing what I was going to do and just kind of flew by the seat of my pants and did what I did. And then it was 25 years later, and I get to do her again. And it was it was funny because I wasn't in love with the way I looked. I wanted to look a little better... I just had this vanity about her. And so I thought, 'OK I've still got good legs.' So I sat myself at the front of the desk for the scene with David. And I said, 'Do you mind if I sit on the edge of the desk here facing you, rather than behind the desk?' And he said, 'No, no, that would make me uncomfortable.' So I had to hide my legs, too. So whatever David wants, David gets."
More recently, Duchovny has kept busy this past year, as his rom-com opposite Meg Ryan — who he says has become a good friend — called What Happens Later hit the masses not too long ago. Those who tuned into this year's Critics Choice Award probably LOL'd at the pair's intro during the ceremony. "We were talking about what we're going to do, but we didn't really have it figured out," said Duchovny. "And we realized we're supposed to come out [onto the stage] having an argument, and then we realized as we're backstage, we're not miked until we get there. So, how are we going to do that?"
Looking ahead, there is also a new thriller series coming soon from Amazon, co-starring Duchovny, called Malice. "I think it's a really cool thriller," he said. "I'm excited to play a role that is also very different from something I've done before, and I'm happy to work with all the people that are on it as well. So I'm really looking forward to it. I can't give any spoilers."
In the meantime, Adam the First hits theaters on Feb. 14
Link to article: https://movieweb.com/david-duchovny-interview-adam-the-first/