Is an 'X-Files' Reboot Happening? What We Know So Far

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Scully and Mulder.

The X-Files is positioned for a reboot 22 years after it ended the first time and six years after it ended the second time. The beloved sci-fi series premiered on Fox in 1993 and introduced the world to FBI special agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny). Mulder was a lover of conspiracy theories and the supernatural, while Scully was a doctor and a skeptic, and together they investigated seemingly inexplicable events. The series ended in 2002, and then was revived with the same stars and creator in 2016. Now, there's talk of a whole new version of the same iconic concept from Ryan Coogler, the writer and director of the Black Panther movies.

While Cooger's version would be a more "diverse" reimagining with a new cast, Anderson revealed on Today that she's down to guest star as Scully. "I'm not saying no, because I think [Coogler] is really cool," she said. "And I think if he did it, it probably would be done incredibly well. Maybe I'll pop in for a little somethin'-somethin.'"

It's a change of tune for Anderson, who has said since 2018 that she would probably not ever play Scully again. But all fans of The X-Files know that nothing is impossible.

Here's everything we know about the future of The X-Files.

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Is there going to be an X-Files reboot?

While Disney and Coogler haven't made the official announcement, X-Files creator Chris Carter revealed in March 2023 that Ryan Coogler, writer and director behind the Black Panther movies, was working on a "diverse" reboot of the beloved sci-fi series. In February 2024, Carter again confirmed to The Wrap that the reboot was still on the table, but he would only be involved as a "cheerleader." I

In an even more recent interview with Inverse, Carter said that he had had conversations with Coogler and heard his "really good ideas" for the new series, but knew that Coogler had a "hard job" ahead of him, especially given the current state of the internet. He specifically cited the Kate Middleton rumors that circulated before it was revealed that she has cancer. "Everything's a conspiracy," he said. "No one knows what the truth is. It's completely subjective and relative now."

So maybe the truth isn't out there after all?

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How did the original X-Files end?

The first time around, The X-Files was canceled after nine seasons and ended with Mulder and Scully as fugitives on the run. Mulder had broken into an army base and killed a guy, and was sentenced to death at a military tribunal. Scully helped break him out of prison and the last scene saw them hiding out in a motel room together.

In 2008, Mulder and Scully returned in a feature film called The X-Files: I Want to Believe. It was written and directed by Carter and gave some closure to the ending of Season 9. The FBI called off their hunt for Mulder in exchange for his help investigating a series of disappearances with a paranormal element, and he and Scully solved the case before, in a post credits scene, boating off together to a tropical island. The movie had very mixed reviews and currently sits at 32% on Rotten Tomatoes.

In 2016, The X-Files returned on Fox for two wild seasons that dealt with Scully's alien son, and ended with Scully telling Mulder that she was pregnant with his child. Reviews were…not so good.

Who is in the cast of The X-Files reboot?

No cast has been announced yet, but Coogler is looking to make the show more diverse this time around.

Is Gillian Anderson in The X-Files reboot?

Anderson is not officially cast in the X-Files reboot, but she told Today in April 2024 that she wouldn't say no to making an appearance, despite having said many times before that she likely would not play Scully again.

"Since I finished The X-Files, every interview I do people have asked, and the answer has always been, 'Nope, not gonna happen,'" she said. "Now, Ryan Coogler, who's a brilliant, brilliant director, has approached Chris Carter to say he wants to do a take on it, and I cannot think of a better way around a reboot. He's a bit of a genius."

Is David Duchovny in The X-Files reboot?

Duchovny has not yet spoken specifically about Coogler's take on the show, but in 2022, he told Comicbook.com that he wouldn't return to the show without both Anderson and Carter. "For me, it was always, 'There's no show unless it's Chris and Gillian,' so I don't know," he said when asked if he'd ever return without Scully. "I don't want to have to think about that, because it's not something that I necessarily need in my life…Personally, for me, the X-Files that I'm involved in consists of Chris Carter, myself, and Gillian, so I haven't spent time trying to think about a different version of that, and I don't know that I will."

When is The X-Files reboot coming out?

The reboot hasn't even been officially greenlit, so a premiere date is still a ways away.

How to watch The X-Files

The OG X-Files is available to stream on Hulu and with ads on Amazon Prime Video.

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