Original cast fate decided: The X-Files creator confirms their status in the new reboot

The saga of The X-Files just refuses to stay in the telly graveyard, doesn’t it? Agents Mulder and Scully have had more resurrections than most TV ghosts, and if you thought we’d seen the last of their torch-lit corridor hunting, think again. Here comes another revival—this one with some properly intriguing twists, courtesy of Ryan Coogler, and all the usual baggage about whether the original icons will show up. Let’s dig in.

Back to the Basement (Again)

In the heyday of 90s television, Chris Carter struck gold with his blend of sci-fi, horror, and paranoia, but half of what made The X-Files endure for decades was the chemistry between David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. When Duchovny took a long sabbatical, the formula wobbled—Robert Patrick and Annabeth Gish brought their own skills but couldn’t quite replicate the Scully-Mulder lightning.

Fast-forward to 2016, Anderson and Duchovny dusted off their badges for a six-episode comeback, which, to be fair, had as many corkers as clunkers. They gave it another go in 2018 with similar mixed results. That last season was especially divisive, with a finale that miffed quite a few fans—including Anderson herself, who wasn’t shy about her disappointment.

Now, we’re in the era of the Ryan Coogler reboot, and the rumour mill’s been grinding away over whether either Duchovny or Anderson would even bother with another lap.

Who’s Actually Coming Back?

The latest wrinkle is that Chris Carter isn’t directly steering the ship this time, but he did offer his own update when pressed by Polygon about the old team joining in. Here’s Carter’s take:

At least Gillian, I think, is going to appear in the Coogler version. And I'm assuming David will too, so you will see Mulder and Scully there.

Put simply, that means we could see both Scully and Mulder pop up in the new project—presumably tying Coogler’s vision to the original continuity. But Carter admits that he’s not yet seen a frame of the new pilot, so take it as early chatter rather than ironclad fact.

Another odd detail: according to various reports, the supposed ‘pilot’ that’s already been filmed may actually be functioning as a standalone film. Hulu might broadcast it as a one-off, and if the numbers are good, then order a whole series off the back of it. Not a bad strategy: even if Hulu gets cold feet, fans could at least enjoy one more X-Files adventure out the gate.

In case you missed the casting gossip, the new leads in this reboot aren’t the usual suspects: Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel are reportedly front and centre, with Anderson and Duchovny’s potential return acting as a bridge to the classic series’ universe.

I don't know. When I see it, I'll know, and so will the Fox executives. They'll have a sense if these things are going to be in competition or if they are going to be complementary ... I would love to do either another reboot, or another movie. My ideas going forward are big ideas. Whether they're a TV series or a movie, I don't know, but I have big plans.

That’s Carter himself, musing about whether he’d ever get back in the ring with another X-Files project of his own again. Doesn’t sound like he’s done with the aliens just yet—he’s got ‘big plans’ (and presumably more conspiracy wall charts somewhere in his office).

Just to really top off the nostalgia: there’s now a full-blown LEGO set based on The X-Files, and Hulu’s popped an R-rated cut of the sequel film I Want to Believe onto their streaming platform, in case you need even more government cover-ups in your evening viewing.