Attention, fellow X-Philes! We have an update on Ryan Coogler’s X-Files reboot! It’s been more than a year since our last update, so here’s a quick refresher: In March 2023, series creator Chris Carter revealed that he’d spoken to Coogler about doing a reboot, with the director serving as its new showrunner. Later that year, in December, an industry report confirmed that Coogler’s X-Files reboot was currently in development for Disney+ and would feature a diverse cast.

Ryan recently appeared on the Last Podcast on the Left to promote his latest hit movie, Sinners. He confirmed that the reboot is still happening and that it’s at the top of his list. In fact, he’s even been in touch with Gillian Anderson. Ryan also promised that some eps will be ”really f-cking scary”.

“I’ve been excited about that for a long time and I’m fired up to get back to it,” Coogler said during a recent interview with “Last Podcast on the Left,” confirming that that project is “immediately next” on his slate. “Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f-cking scary.”

Coogler was first reported to be developing an “X-Files” series back in 2023, when series creator and showrunner Chris Carter confirmed that the two have had conversations about remounting the supernatural detective drama, which starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who were assigned to investigate reports of paranormal activity.

“The X-Files,” originally produced by 20th Century Fox Television, aired on Fox for nine seasons from 1993 to 2001, before being revived at the network for two more rounds in 2016 and 2018. Coogler is developing the revival idea through his overall deal with Walt Disney Television.

Asked if he’s touched base with Anderson, Coogler confirms the two have spoken. “She’s incredible and fingers crossed there,” he said, explaining that Anderson was finishing up work on “Tron: Ares” the last time they talked. “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.”

Over the past dozen years, Coogler has proven to be a master of breathing new life into established IP. First, he rebooted the “Rocky” franchise with 2015’s “Creed.” Then, he adapted Marvel’s “Black Panther” comics into one of the MCU’s most critically-acclaimed franchises, with both the 2018 original and its 2022 sequel, “Wakanda Forever,” earning multiple Academy Award nominations.

“Sinners” is Coogler’s first wholly original premise. The R-rated vampire thriller has proven to be an early hit with critics and audiences, earning $4.7 million in previews on the way to a projected $40 million to $50 million opening weekend.

[From Variety]

Let’s f-cking gooooooo! I’m so excited about this reboot. Even if it struggles to find its footing, it will still be better than the 2016 and 2018 seasons. There’s still no word about casting, but hopefully we find out more on that soon. What are the odds that we get a Michael B. Jordan guest star appearance? Probably pretty high, right? I wonder if Ryan will pull Hollywood names for the lead roles or if he’ll go with lesser or unknown actors. I kinda hope he does the latter.

I’m also so intrigued about his conversations with Gillian, who has been so vocal in the past about being done with Scully and The X-Files. Perhaps she was just done with Carter’s XF vision. I don’t think Scully would or even should return as a major character in the reboot, but it would be neat to get a cameo appearance to confirm that the original and reboot take place within the same universe. And what he said about it being really scary? Does this mean we’re getting some crazy Monster-of-the-Week eps? Aahh, I’m so excited!

You can watch Ryan’s full appearance on The Last Podcast on the Left here. The X-Files talk starts around 27:30.

Embed from Getty Images

Photos credit: Nicky Nelson/Wenn/Avalon, James Warren/Bang Showbiz/Avalon