The truth is out there… Again! For a few years now, “Black Panther” and “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler has been teasing a revival of the classic TV series, The “X-Files.” Now, we’re one step closer to the show’s return, with Hulu ordering a pilot for a new version of the show, which will be written and directed by Coogler himself. Alongside the announcement, we’ve also learned about more of the talent involved, both on-camera and behind-the-scenes.
Unlike the classic show, which ran for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 (and then two more seasons between 2016 and 2018), this series won’t star original leads David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. According to Deadline, the new show will focus on a new pair of FBI agents, one of whom will be played by Danielle Deadwyler (“Till,” “The Woman in the Yard,” “Station Eleven”). Her co-star has yet to be cast. The showrunner of the new show will be Jennifer Yale, who is currently co-showrunner, alongside Thomas Brandon, of Peacock’s hit series, “The Copenhagen Test.”
More News: ‘The X-Files’ Reboot Is Getting Help From an Unexpected TV Mastermind
Rebecca Sapp / Contributor via Getty Images
More News: Ryan Coogler Wants Original Star Back For ‘The X-Files’ Reboot
Ryan Coogler is one of the hottest filmmakers in the world right now. His two “Black Panther” movies grossed a combined $2.19 billion at the global box office, and Sinners just set a record for the most Oscar nominations received by a single film, with 16 nods, including Best Picture and Best Director. Coogler’s body of work also includes “Fruitvale Station” and the first two “Creed” movies.
“The X-Files” has inspired a nearly cult-like fandom, rivaled only by the likes of “Star Trek” and “Doctor Who.” The franchise is multifaceted and beloved for numerous reasons. Some people love the mythology of aliens and government conspiracies, while others prefer the numerous stand-alone “monster of the week” episodes. A third camp is in it mostly for the palpable chemistry between its two leads. Me? I’m a Skinner guy, myself.
For some, a version of “The X-Files” that doesn’t star the duo of Anderson and Duchovny will be a tough sell. Still, the world of “The X-Files” is rich with storytelling possibilities. Across a combined 218 episodes and two feature films, not to mention comic books, novels, video games, and more, the franchise has explored the depths of horror and sci-fi, as well as comedy, romance, and even self-aware deconstructions of its own self-serious sensibilities (seriously, if you haven’t seen Season 11’s “The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat,” you owe it to yourself).
I can’t wait to see how this next chapter of The X-Files saga shakes out. We’ll keep you updated as the pilot moves closer to production, and hopefully makes it to series. With “The X-Files,” “Baywatch,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale” in development, it looks like we’re on the cusp of a renaissance of 1990s TV revivals, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
