Director Says Series Is “Immediately Next” on His Slate as Reboot Plans Take Shape
Ryan Coogler is deep in development on his reboot of The X-Files — and yes, he’s already reached out to Agent Dana Scully herself. The Black Panther director shared a promising update on the long-awaited reboot, revealing on Last Podcast on the Left that he’s spoken to Gillian Anderson about potentially joining the project.
“She’s Incredible”: Coogler’s Praise for Anderson & Reboot Hopes
Coogler, who called Anderson “the great Gillian Anderson,” added:
“She’s incredible. Fingers crossed there.”
He also emphasized that the reboot is high on his priority list:
“I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to get back to it… Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f—ing scary.”
Coogler made it clear that this won’t be a rehash, but a bold new take:
“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.”
Gillian Anderson Responds to Reboot: “I’m Not Saying No”
In earlier interviews, Anderson responded positively to Coogler’s involvement, saying:
“I cannot think of a better way around for a reboot to happen. He’s a bit of a genius.”
While she remained noncommittal about returning in a full-time role, she hinted at openness:
“Whether I am involved in it is a whole other thing… Maybe I’ll pop in for a little something something.”
A New Era of Conspiracies and Paranormal Thrills
Originally airing from 1993 to 2002, The X-Files ran for nine seasons and became a cultural phenomenon. Anderson and David Duchovny starred as FBI agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder, investigating unexplained and often supernatural cases.
The show spawned two feature films — The X-Files (1998) and I Want to Believe (2008) — and returned for a two-season revival between 2016 and 2018. Now, Coogler is poised to reinvent the franchise for a new generation.
Chris Carter Confirms Coogler’s Diverse Vision for the Reboot
In 2024, original series creator Chris Carter confirmed that Coogler is developing a reboot with a diverse cast through his Disney Television deal via Proximity Media. Speaking on On the Coast, Carter said:
“He’s got his work cut out for him because we covered so much territory. And today, we’re steeped in conspiracies.”
The reboot will reportedly reflect a modern world where misinformation and tech-fueled paranoia are more prevalent than ever.