WILL ANDERSON FIND THE TRUTH, OR GET LOST IN THE 'X-FILES'.

Byline: David Kronke Television Writer

Gillian Anderson vehemently did not want to return for an eighth season. Chris Carter has often questioned whether there were any decent stories left in ``The X-Files'' franchise.

Yet there they were Wednesday afternoon, discussing how happy they were about ``The X-Files'' embarking on its eighth season and even looking forward to a probable ninth year of the paranormally popular series.

Joining them was Robert Patrick, who replaces David Duchovny (who returns - with various degrees of involvement - for 11 episodes, including the last six, thanks to a big last-minute payday) as Special Agent John Doggett, the show's new skeptic when it comes to all things spooky. (Scully is now the reluctant ``believer.'')

Anderson conceded her renewed enthusiasm for the show represented an attitude adjustment.

``I had expressed a lot of reservations,'' she said. ``I felt that I would lose sight of what I had left to give, and I think that after a big conversation (with the network and the show's producers) where I realized I had no choice (but) to do an eighth season, much to my chagrin.'' Here she stopped, laughing at her apparent understatement.

``I then had a conversation with Chris (Carter) and started to get more interested and more excited about the potential for the new year. I'm very excited and having a lot of fun.'' Anderson also reportedly received a hefty raise, making between $200,000 and $300,000 per episode.

Anderson attributed her waning interest in the series to the fact that she was ``doing the same thing for seven years and just losing track of myself, my life, my responsibilities as a mother and trying to make my character interesting.'' The divorced 32-year-old has a 6-year-old daughter. She will also star in ``The House of Mirth'' due out this December. Anderson's performance in the film based on Edith Wharton's novel is already receiving some buzz.

``Since Scully has more to do now, it almost feels as if Scully has found her voice again, or I have found my center again,'' said Anderson. ``When there were two of us heading the series, part of me stepped back in a way, but the situation now has allowed me to open up more and be in more of my strength.

``What has happened for all of us, with the introduction of this new character, there's a new energy, like a new baby in the family. I'm using the word 'energy' a lot, but life is energy, and when new energy comes in, it transforms everything around it. Robert lit a fire under all of us and has given the writers new avenues to explore that they didn't have before.''

Carter insisted, ``There are a lot more good 'X-Files' stories to tell. None of us want to see it peter out or fall into ruin.''

As for Duchovny's defection, Carter said, ``My job is to take the problems as they occur, and turn them into good creative solutions.'' Though only Anderson and Patrick are signed for a ninth season, Carter sounded like he could easily be talked into continuing with his brainchild.

Duchovny will reportedly make as much as $30 million this year between his ``X-Files'' salary and the settlement of his lawsuit in which he sued Fox over selling ``X-File'' reruns to the cable channel FX, which is owned by Fox, for an undervalued price.

As for fans' reaction to Patrick, whose character threatens to disrupt the celebrated chemistry between Mulder and Scully, ``I can't worry about that,'' the 41-year-old actor said. ``I can only do what my character would do, which is just do my job and hope things work out.''

Carter was, as usual, elusive in discussing where the show may venture. He noted, however, that a future episode would focus on a character ``contaminated by a kind of smart metal - he'll have a metallic quality to him,'' an obvious homage to Patrick's earlier role as the T-1000 model in ``Terminator 2: Judgment Day.''

At some point in the season, Carter said, ``The X-Files'' would go on hiatus to turn the time slot over to his spin-off series, ``The Lone Gunmen.''

As for Scully's mysterious pregnancy (she was supposedly infertile) - and who the father might be - Carter said, ``We're going to play it out and try to keep it in keeping with a nine-month pregnancy. This is November, and by the time of May sweeps, we'll be pretty close to the time when the birth could be expected. Was that vague enough for you?''

``THE X-FILES''

What: Eighth-season premiere of the paranormal phenomenon.

The stars: Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick.

Where: Fox (Channel 11).

When: 10 p.m. Sunday.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Leading the charge on the new season of ``The X-Files'' are Robert Patrick, left, Gillian Anderson and Mitch Pileggi.