Creator of X Files 'sues' studio

David Duchovny starred in the X Files

X Files creator Chris Carter has sued studio 20th Century Fox for breach of contract, according to reports.

Carter filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court in December through his Ten Thirteen production company, trade paper Hollywood Reporter said.

Court documents claim 20th Century Fox went back on previous financial deals struck with Carter.

Supernatural drama and cult hit X Files ran from 1993 to 2002, making stars of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.

Profit

According to court papers, in 1998 Carter made an agreement with 20th Century Fox to give him a "profit guarantee" for a sixth and seventh season of X Files.

Negotiations for a ninth season led to Carter urging 20th Century Fox to cancel the show's domestic cable deal for repeat rights with the FX network.

But Carter's case claims the agreement with FX was handed over to networks USA and TNT.

The documents also allege that Carter negotiated for a cable advance equal to 25% of the licence fee paid to 20th Century Fox in excess of $300,000 (�170,000) per episode of the show.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Carter said in 2001 that 20th Century Fox asked him to reduce the cable advance because it would result in a benefit too large for him.

Telephone messages left at Carter's lawyer's office and with 20th Century Fox television were not immediately returned.

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