The X-Files Reboot Underway From Marvel’s Most Important Director
If at first, you don’t succeed… Try again with a different director. According to IGN, The X-Files is getting another revival, this time from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler. Once the biggest sci-fi TV show around, Fox already tried reviving the series in 2016, but now it looks like Disney would like to give it a go with Coogler at the helm.
The X-Files Run
The X-Files, originally debuting in 1993, became a cultural phenomenon with its gripping narrative centered around FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigating unsolved paranormal cases.
After nine seasons and two movies, the show experienced a lackluster revival in 2016.
While Season 10 did well enough to greenlight Season 11, the final season of the iconic show was more than disappointing and became the least-watched season in the show’s history, averaging only 5.34 million viewers per episode.
Gillian Anderson Doesn’t Love The Idea
The prospect of a revival is met with mixed emotions from both fans of the show and the actors who made The X-Files a global sensation.
Gillian Anderson, who portrayed the iconic Agent Dana Scully, recently shared her thoughts on the potential return. Expressing reservations, Anderson stated, “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.”
Ryan Coogler And A Fresh Approach?
Anderson’s sentiments highlight the need for a fresh approach to reinvigorate the beloved series. She emphasized that for another season to be considered, a new set of writers would be essential to breathe new life into The X-Files and propel it into a more progressive narrative.
Perhaps Ryan Coogler is just the man to do this. While it’s unknown exactly what ideas Disney has for a The X-Files revival, Coogler would bring a unique and acclaimed cinematic vision to the table.
We already know that Coogler’s got range as he’s been able to tell two very different (very successful) stories between Black Panther and the Creed movies.
David Duchovny And Gillian Anderson Returning?
The question on everyone’s minds is how Coogler’s creative flair will meld with the mysterious and paranormal elements that define The X-Files. And how will the series change now that it will be produced by Disney, who acquired Fox in 2019?
While the return of original stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson remains uncertain, Anderson’s recent comments suggest that any potential The X-Files revival must break away from the show’s past and embrace innovation.
She indicated that passing the baton to a new generation of writers would be crucial for the series to feel truly rejuvenated.
Delicate Balance
The challenges faced by the 2016 revival underscore the delicate balance required to satisfy both long-time fans and newcomers.
Season 11 of The X-Files tried to continue the classic elements that made the show so great—intricate conspiracies, mysterious figures cloaked in shadows, stealthy assassins, and jaw-dropping revelations—but it ended up delivering an awkward and rushed series that lacked finesse.
Breathing New Life
However, as disappointing as Season 11 of The X-Files might have been, the previous revival’s failures could work in favor of the Disney-Coogler revival.
If Coogler can breathe new life into the series with the knowledge of where the previous revival fell short, it’s possible this “new version” will captivate both new and old audiences. Maybe it could possibly transcend the nostalgia of the show’s earlier glory days.
