As the American Southern Gothic horror film Sinners continues to bask in the post-release buzz, director Ryan Coogler has turned his attention to his next big break: an X-Files series reboot.
Speaking to The Last Podcast on the Left, the filmmaker confirmed his reimagining of the sci-fi classic is “immediately next” on his slate. “I’ve been excited about that for a long time and I’m fired up to get back to it,” he said, “Some of these episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f**king scary.”
The project was first announced in 2023 with plans to feature “a diverse cast”, but additional information, including story details and potential cast, has remained scarce. It’s also unclear whether this new take will be a fresh entry or if it’d connect to the existing show, and if original star Gillan Anderson is set to return in some capacity.
“It just feels like such an old idea. I’ve done it, I did it for so many years, and it also ended on such an unfortunate note,” said the actor previously, when asked on the likelihood of her reprising her role as Dana Scully in a new season after the show’s revival run from 2016 to 2018.
“In order to even begin to have that conversation [about another season], there would need to be a whole new set of writers and the baton would need to be handed on for it to feel like it was new and progressive. So yeah, it’s very much in the past.”
Still, there’s a glimmer of hope to be found. In addition to the status update, Coogler shared that he has spoken with Anderson: “She’s incredible and fingers crossed there. We’re going to try to make something really great, bro, and make something for the real X-Files fans and maybe find some new ones.”
The beloved drama series aired for nine seasons from 1993 to 2001, before receiving two additional seasons in 2016 and 2018. It follows FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Anderson), who investigate marginalised, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Coogler is developing the X-Files reboot through Walt Disney Television, while 20th Century Fox Television produced the original.
Sinner is the latest addition to the director’s repertoire, which includes the superhero hit Black Panther and its sequel Wakanda Forever, Creed III (as producer), and the upcoming Marvel’s Ironheart series (as executive producer), slated for release on 24 June.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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