Ryan Coogler, out promoting his new supernatural horror movie “Sinners”, mentions that The X-Files will be his immediate next project. He has talked to GA about it, he hopes that there will be some scary episodes, and that old fans as well as new fans will be happy. About 27:30 in the April 16 episode of The Last Podcast on the Left:

“I’m working on X-Files. That’s what’s immediately next. 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 fucking scary. I’ve spoken to the great Gillian Anderson, yes, she’s amazing, she’s incredible, fingers crossed there. I can’t wait to see her on Tron [Ares]. When I spoke to her she was finishing that up. We’re going to try to make something really great and really make something for the real X-Files fans and maybe find some new ones.”

So the rumours launched by Chris Carter already two years ago are true! (See March 2023, April 2023, February 2024, April 2024) This is the first time this is directly discussed by Coogler, and so much time has passed that many of us were doubting there was anything of substance happening. According to IMDb, filming on Tron wrapped on May 1 2024, so it’s probably been a while since he talked to Anderson. Parent company Disney has not commented yet, but given how careful big companies are with their image nowadays, I’d expect an announcement long into pre-production, when many things will have been decided.

Since talks are going on with Anderson, we can put aside the option that this will be a hard reboot. No details yet about whether the focus will be on Mulder and Scully, or — much more likely I think — focus on new characters with guest appearances by the old guard. If this indeed happens we could expect a 2026 release at best: some 8 years since season 11 already, which is as long as the gap between “I Want To Believe” and the revival season 10! If as much time passes in-universe, Mulder will be 65 and Scully 62, and their child about 7 years old. Frank Black will be 85. It has to be a “next generation” sort of continuation.

I wish Coogler luck! It will be a tough job, following up on 200+ episodes while being fresh, bringing something new to an entertainment business oversaturated with “content” fighting for our attention, saying something of substance when conspiracy theories have gone mainstream and the US is shifting even further into authoritarianism. What’s more, with today’s TV landscape it will already be very difficult for this to get actually made, and then go beyond just one season. It will be challenging for it to have any sort of cultural impact, few revivals have produced something interesting, but it could turn out…good? To be continued…