Ryan Coogler Teases His 'Scary' X-Files Reboot

Summary

Director Ryan Coogler is excited about his The X-Files reboot, aiming for "scary" episodes.
Excitement grows around the reboot as Coogler plans to honor the original while adding a modern touch.
Gillian Anderson may make a return to the series, with fans eager for a potential special appearance from the original cast member.

The X-Files series was hugely influential in '90s pop culture, hence the interest in a reboot. Director Ryan Coogler, who is attached to the project, gave a promising update about the show.

The X-Files is a science fiction drama television series that debuted on Fox in September 2023 and aired until March 2018. It aired for 11 seasons with a total of 218 episodes. The series follows FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), who investigate the unsolved cases known as X-Files. Those cases often involve paranormal phenomena, government conspiracies, and extraterrestrial life. A reboot was announced in March 2023 with Coogler, who is known for Black Panther, Creed, and Sinners, leading it. The filmmaker just shared a positive update about the anticipated series.

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Coogler appeared on Last Podcast on the Left, where he talked about his next project after Sinners. The filmmaker confirmed that The X-Files was the project that he would work on "immediately next." He also added that he had already spoken to Anderson, one of the leads in the original TV series, about the reboot. The director did not share the details about the call but seemingly invited Anderson to the new project because "she's incredible." However, Coogler wasn't sure if she would commit to it, or he probably wanted to keep her possible involvement under wraps because he added, "Fingers crossed there." Whether Anderson joins or not, Coogler is very excited about the project. He said:

I've been excited about that for a long time, and I'm fired up to get back to it.

Aside from sharing that he had already spoken to Anderson, Coogler also teased about the upcoming episodes in the series. According to him, if they do their jobs right, fans can expect "f***ing scary" episodes. "We're gonna try to make something really great, bro, and really be something for the real X-Files fans, and maybe find some new ones," he added. Coogler teasing about frightening episodes excites fans. The X-Files is a mix of science fiction, horror, mystery, and thriller, with episodes ranging from creepy and unsettling to action-packed sequences. It also featured quirky and funny scenes, which is why fans loved the show, and helped it last for nearly 25 years. Chris Carter, the creator of the original X-Files, is supportive of the reboot even if he isn't involved in the project. In an interview with Inverse in September 2024, Carter admitted that people would ask him whether he was possessive of the show, but the original showrunner only told them: "No, I'm looking forward to seeing what somebody else does with it."

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Coogler is an acclaimed American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for character-driven storytelling and socially relevant themes. This makes him a great choice for the reboot because, according to previous reports, the plan for the new show is to reflect modern societal issues. Coogler's X-Files is not a continuation of the original show but a reimagining of the series. Coogler has the vision and social awareness, plus the experience in modernizing the series while keeping its eerie theme. He has successfully rebooted Rocky with Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone. The filmmaker respected the franchise's history but gave the reboot a new life. This is exactly what is needed in The X-Files reboot, and Coogler can certainly deliver it.

As for Anderson's return, she could appear as Dana Scully because it's hard to imagine a reboot without any involvement from the original stars. She could appear in a single episode as a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation of characters. Or she could play a retired Scully and serve as a mentor or consultant to the new leads. With this approach, the reboot will be able to maintain her integrity and expertise intact, while respecting her arc from the original show. However, Anderson has said multiple times that she was done portraying Scully. But she was supportive of Coogler and previously said on Today (via Deadline) that she might "pop in for a little something something."