Published Feb 23, 2026, 3:07 PM EST
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi joined Screen Rant in August 2019 and is now one of the leading contributors of the TV News team. Having written over 3000 news stories in that time , with his work cited in Buzzfeed and TV Insider, he's always bemoaning that there's too many shows and not enough time. You can contact him at: [email protected].
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
The X-Files has found its first lead cast member, as Ryan Coogler's reboot is finally moving forward.
Talk of an X-Files reboot surfaced in March 2023, when creator Chris Carter revealed that Black Panther and Creed director Ryan Coogler would be leading a new version of the franchise. Carter noted at the time that he is not directly involved in the project, but said he supports the new direction.
The X-Files reboot has received a pilot greenlight at Hulu. Danielle Deadwyler (The Woman in the Yard) is set as the co-lead, with Jennifer Yale (Peacock's The Copenhagen Test) set as showrunner.
Coogler is writing and directing the pilot for the new X-Files. It'll focus on two highly decorated but vastly different FBI agents as they form an unlikely bond when they are assigned to a long-shuttered division devoted to cases involving unexplained phenomena. The setup of the premise allows the reboot to connect to the original while also mirroring the unforgettable dynamic between Mulder and Scully.
The reboot hails from the executive producing team of Yale and Coogler, as well as franchise creator Chris Carter, Sev Ohanian, and Zinzi Coogler of Proximity Media. Sinners casting director Francine Maisler is also casting The X-Files pilot, which has gained steam over the past several months, while Coogler has discussed his vision and hopes for it during the press tour and subsequent awards campaign for Sinners.
Deadwyler is a familiar face to genre fans. She led the Universal Pictures horror film The Woman in the Yard and the Netflix thriller movie Carry On, as well as having a pivotal supporting role in A24's I Saw the TV Glow. Her dramatic roles include Till, for which she received a BAFTA nomination for Best Lead Actress, and The Piano Lesson. Up next, Deadwyler will co-star in the HBO comedy Rooster opposite Steve Carell. She also has a role in Euphoria season 3, which premieres in April.
Concerning whether David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will return to their respective roles as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, the two have remained open to the possibility but declined to comment further. Coogler also mentioned that he's talked to Anderson about The X-Files reboot, albeit also declining to offer specifics.
Coogler has been more open about his love for episodes of the original X-Files, mentioning how he used to watch it with his mother and how he intends to uphold the legacy of the seminal series that influenced both genre shows and police procedurals in arguably equal measure. With casting now starting to be announced, at long last, it likely won't be long before the next update reveals who else is joining Deadwyler.
Release Date 1993 - 2018-00-00
Network FOX
Showrunner Chris Carter
Directors Rob Bowman, David Nutter, R. W. Goodwin, Michael W. Watkins, Tony Wharmby, Daniel Sackheim, Michael Lange, Cliff Bole, David Duchovny, Jim Charleston, James Wong, Peter Markle, Rod Hardy, Thomas J. Wright, William A. Graham, Jerrold Freedman, Joe Napolitano, Kevin Hooks, Larry Shaw, Richard Compton, Tucker Gates, Allen Coulter, Barry K. Thomas, Brett Dowler
-
David Duchovny
Fox Mulder
-
English (US) ·