'The X Files' Meets 'The West Wing' in Your Next Must-See Sci-Fi Obsession [Exclusive]

Published Mar 20, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Britta DeVore is a Senior Author for Collider who has been known to dabble with Reality News as well. 

Have you seen stories about 'Chucky,' 'Scream,' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'The Boys,' 'Vanderpump Rules,' or any of 'The Real Housewives' franchises? That's probably a Britta DeVore-curated piece of art, and it sounds like you have great taste.

When she isn't sitting behind her laptop bringing readers her hot takes on upcoming projects or keeping the dream alive in the Senior News team, Britta can usually be found outside hiking or inside behind her drum set. She currently plays in two bands, Kid Midnight and Watergate, both based in Brooklyn. An obsessive traveler, Britta loves long road trips to the South West and has a soft spot in her heart for canyons, rivers, and forests.

She also has a tiny cat named Athena that she loves more than anything else in the world and is always happy for new brewery recs.

Today, Collider is excited to share some exclusive quotes from Lopez, who will serve as a producer on the new creative endeavor, which is described as a mix between The X-Files and The West Wing. For starters, Lopez told us that — despite leaning towards sci-fi — it’s going to be a story that anyone can get behind and lose themselves in. "Paul Cornell and Ryan Kelly's Saucer Country is incredibly rich source material because it sits at the intersection of genres in a way that feels both original and deeply relevant," Lopez told Collider. "It blends science fiction, political thriller, and character drama, but always with a grounded, human connection. The alien abduction mystery isn’t just a hook. It’s deeply intertwined with the story’s exploration of identity, power, and the realities of immigration and geopolitics in America, all of which feel especially urgent today."

Like so many others who have already poured over the pages of the original graphic novel, Lopez says that upon his first read through, “I genuinely couldn’t put it down,” adding, “I went through it in one sitting, and that sense of constantly wanting to know what happens next is something we’re very focused on translating to the screen.” That page-turning effect led him to push for Saucer Country’s TV makeover, which will allow the creative team to dig even deeper into the multitude of themes that make the story stand out:

“And what makes it especially exciting as a television series is its scope. Saucer Country isn’t just for science fiction fans. It’s for audiences who love political dramas, conspiracy thrillers, and character-driven storytelling. The material has a sophistication and narrative depth that really lends itself to long-form television, where we can fully explore its twists, its themes, and the emotional journeys of its characters.”

As mentioned, the story, which centers on an alien abduction that ends up tying into the political world, has previously been compared to The X-Files and The West Wing. Breaking down specifically how Saucer Country plays with both of those fan-favorite titles, Lopez said, “In a word: character. What made The X-Files and The West Wing endure wasn’t just their concepts; it was the people at the center of them. Characters you believed in, rooted for, and wanted to spend time with, no matter how extraordinary the situations became." He continued, explaining:

"That’s exactly what Saucer Country has at its core. These are complex, grounded, deeply human characters navigating events that are anything but ordinary. And it’s through their perspectives, their actions and choices, their doubts and resilience, that the story really comes to life.

For us, that’s what builds an audience. Not just spectacle or mystery, but emotional investment in the characters. And as the story unfolds, we believe Saucer Country will offer a fresh perspective on the phenomenon, one that isn’t afraid to engage with the questions directly and move toward meaningful, definitive answers.”

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‘Saucer Country’s Road to Release

Given that the news of Saucer Country’s adaptation just broke earlier this week, there are still a handful of pieces that need to fall into place before it’s ready to celebrate its world premiere. Ready for what he describes as a “very busy and exciting year,” Lopez dished about where the team was in the creative stages, telling Collider:

“There are a number of key pieces to put in place, but this is very much a passion project for all of us involved. Alongside producer Hamzah Jamjoom and executive producer Chris Ryall, the focus now is on assembling a talented, creative team that shares that same level of passion for the material. We’re thrilled to have Paul Cornell already at work on the first episode, giving us a strong creative foundation from the outset. From there, the plan is to spend the year writing, developing, and casting the first season, so that we’re in a strong position to move into production toward the end of the year.”

Stay tuned to Collider for more information about Saucer Country’s TV adaptation.