The X-Files fans convinced TV reboot ‘could fix show’s biggest mistake’

The X Files reboot will be very scary, Ryan Coogler has promised (Picture: 20th Century Fox) Ryan Coogler has left the X-Files fans seriously pumped after shedding light on his ‘really f**king scary’ reboot ideas. Fresh from directing horror film Sinners, with Michael B Jordan and Hailee Steinfeld, the filmmaker is set to turn his attention to reviving the iconic 90s sci-fi series. The original program ran for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002, following FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) – it also spanned two movies and a short-lived revival in 2016, which ended after two years. The 38-year-old previously sent us all into a spin when he revealed he would be developing a new reboot in 2023, with series creator Chris Carter announcing that he was not involved last year. In a new appearance on Last Podcast on the Left, the director finally shared a much-needed update on the project, declaring he has been ‘fired up’ to get back to work on it. ‘I’m working on X-Files,’ he confirmed. ‘That’s what’s immediately next. So, I’ve been excited about that for a long time, and I’m fired up to get back to it, and some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f**king scary. The Sinners director shared that the reboot is his ‘immediate next’ project (Picture: WireImage) Little else is known about the reboot or when we can expect it, but ‘immediately next’ sounds like viewers won’t be waiting too long. Ryan also suggested that the OG cast could be involved, sharing that he has ‘spoken to’ Gillian about his ideas for the project. ‘I’ve spoken to the great Gillian,’ he added. ‘She’s incredible. Fingers crossed there. I can’t wait to see her. She’s in Tron [Ares]. I just seen a trailer for that. When I spoke to her, she was finishing that up. ‘But we’re going to try to make something really great, and really be something for the real X-Files fans. And maybe find some new ones.’ David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson led the cast during the original run (Picture: Rex) Unsurprisingly, fans were thrilled by the update and flocked to Reddit to unpack the director’s comments, sharing their hopes that Ryan will correct the mistakes made with Scully’s arc in the later seasons – something Gillian publicly spoke out against. A-hthy penned: ‘Oh wow. I’m so down for this. I understand Gillian wasn’t happy with the end of s11, they absolutely ruined Scully’s character!! It was an insult. ‘I would be soooo excited to see her come back [sic].’ ‘Oh hell yeah! A proper follow up (by someone who is not Chris Carter) is such a better idea than full on reboot,’ Special-Chipmunk7127 agreed. Fans were delighted by Ryan’s update (Picture: Rex) ‘I trust Coogler with this, with the tear he’s been on he could do anything he wants and the fact he’s choosing this means he’s got to have a pretty solid concept and something worth saying with it,’ Helidokter wrote. As Forcefivepod added: ‘There are only a few people who could get me excited for an X-Files reboot. Coogler is one of them.’ This won’t be the first X Files reboot as the series was revived back in 2016, taking place 14 years after season nine. David and Gillian returned, and were joined by Joel McHale, Lauren Ambrose, Robbie Amell and Aliza Vellani – however, the newer episodes were panned by fans and critics alike. Will Mulder and Scully come back for another adventure? (Picture: BBC) Gillian, who also starred in The Crown and Sex Education, previously called out the changes made to her character – and her decision not to return after season 11 – while popping up in her co-star’s Fail Better podcast. ‘It felt like Scully’s trajectory was no longer one of strength and agency,’ she said, via AV Club. ‘It felt like it was beholden to an old idea of what a woman is… ‘Literally all she could talk about was William and finding William. That’s literally a one-track song.’ ‘I wasn’t really enjoying the direction that it was heading,’ she added. ‘And I didn’t have a voice in it. And so I felt like I needed to move on to something where I might have more of a voice.’ Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.