Summary
As development forges ahead on the new take on the franchise, David Duchovny comments for the first time onThe X-Filesreboot. Duchovny co-led the cast of the original sci-fi procedural along with Gillian Anderson as FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who are tasked with investigating unsolved cases seemingly involving the supernatural or extraterrestrials. Up to now,The X-Filesfranchisehas consisted of nine seasons, two movies, and two revival seasons, though Ryan Coogler was announced in early 2023 to be developing a reboot.
During a recent interview withScreen Rantfor his upcoming directorial effortReverse the Curse, Duchovny was asked his thoughts on the upcomingX-Filesreboot. The original star, who had yet to speak publicly about the project, shared his succinct feelings on the matter, acknowledging that it seems to be different from his beloved original show, though wished Ryan Coogler and his creative team luck. See what Duchovny said about the reboot below:
I don’t really have any thoughts on it. It seems to be a whole separate project. I wish them luck.
Coogler’s Reboot Should Take 1 Trick From The Revival Seasons
Though this marks Duchovny’s first comments on the project, he’s not the only original creative to addressCoogler’sX-Filesreboot. Creator Chris Carter has been a very vocal supporter of the reboot, expressing a feeling of being “honored” that Disney and 20th Century Fox approached him for his blessing and teasing that Coogler has “some good ideas” for it. Anderson has also been excited for the reboot, even stating an oppenness to return, conflicting her previous disinterest in having done so:
Gillian Anderson:It’s so funny because for most of my life, since I finished The X-Files, every interview I do, people have asked, and the answer has always been “No, not going to happen. Not going to happen.” Now Ryan Coogler, who is the director of Black Panther and a brilliant, brilliant director, has approached Chris Carter to say he wants to do a take on it. I cannot think of a better way around for a reboot to happen, I think he’s a bit of a genius. There’s a chance it will happen, whether I’m involved in it is a whole other thing. But I’m not saying no, because I think he’s really cool. If he did it, it would probably be done incredibly well. Maybe I’ll pop in for a little something, something.
Despite Anderson’s interest in returning, though, the best possible path forThe X-Filesreboot may be for Coogler to avoid bringing too many original stars back likethe Mulder and Scully actors, in order to allow the focus to stay on new characters. Many show revivals have found themselves the subject of criticism for a reliance on nostalgic cameos and familiar storytelling rather than forging ahead with their own concepts and characters. While Coogler has already shown his strength in avoiding these issues with the firstCreedmovie, it’s still a factor he will have to consider with the reboot.
8 Things That Need To Happen To Make Disney’s The X-Files Reboot Work
From Mulder and Scully’s return to monster of the week episodes, Disney’s more diverse X-Files reboot needs to get a lot of elements right to succeed.
One of the best tricks Coogler can pull from Carter’s revival seasons heading intoThe X-Filesreboot was the way it balanced Mulder and Scully’s investigations with the figures actually at the heart of them. The show’s original run largely kept the focus on the actual investigating, but by broadening this focus, it not only allowed for a more deliberate pacing of Mulder and Scully’s arcs, but also kept audiences guessing as to the outcome of the cases. If Coogler takes a similar approach to hisX-Filesreboot, it could prove just as unpredictable and thrilling as the original show and its revival.
All 11 seasons of the originalX-Filesare available to stream on Hulu.
The X-Files
Cast
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
