David Duchovny Comments On X-Files Reboot For The First Time (2024)

As development forges ahead on the new take on the franchise, David Duchovny comments for the first time on The X-Files reboot. Duchovny co-led the cast of the original sci-fi procedural along with Gillian Anderson as FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who are tasked with investigating unsolved cases seemingly involving the supernatural or extraterrestrials. Up to now, The X-Files franchise has consisted of nine seasons, two movies, and two revival seasons, though Ryan Coogler was announced in early 2023 to be developing a reboot.

During a recent interview with Screen Rant for his upcoming directorial effort Reverse the Curse, Duchovny was asked his thoughts on the upcoming X-Files reboot. The original star, who had yet to speak publicly about the project, shared his succinct feelings on the matter, acknowledging that it seems to be different from his beloved original show, though wished Ryan Coogler and his creative team luck. See what Duchovny said about the reboot below:

I don't really have any thoughts on it. It seems to be a whole separate project. I wish them luck.

Coogler's Reboot Should Take 1 Trick From The Revival Seasons

Though this marks Duchovny's first comments on the project, he's not the only original creative to address Coogler's X-Files reboot. Creator Chris Carter has been a very vocal supporter of the reboot, expressing a feeling of being "honored" that Disney and 20th Century Fox approached him for his blessing and teasing that Coogler has "some good ideas" for it. Anderson has also been excited for the reboot, even stating an oppenness to return, conflicting her previous disinterest in having done so:

Gillian Anderson: It’s so funny because for most of my life, since I finished The X-Files, every interview I do, people have asked, and the answer has always been “No, not going to happen. Not going to happen.” Now Ryan Coogler, who is the director of Black Panther and a brilliant, brilliant director, has approached Chris Carter to say he wants to do a take on it. I cannot think of a better way around for a reboot to happen, I think he’s a bit of a genius. There’s a chance it will happen, whether I’m involved in it is a whole other thing. But I’m not saying no, because I think he’s really cool. If he did it, it would probably be done incredibly well. Maybe I’ll pop in for a little something, something.

Despite Anderson's interest in returning, though, the best possible path for The X-Files reboot may be for Coogler to avoid bringing too many original stars back like the Mulder and Scully actors, in order to allow the focus to stay on new characters. Many show revivals have found themselves the subject of criticism for a reliance on nostalgic cameos and familiar storytelling rather than forging ahead with their own concepts and characters. While Coogler has already shown his strength in avoiding these issues with the first Creed movie, it's still a factor he will have to consider with the reboot.

One of the best tricks Coogler can pull from Carter's revival seasons heading into The X-Files reboot was the way it balanced Mulder and Scully's investigations with the figures actually at the heart of them. The show's original run largely kept the focus on the actual investigating, but by broadening this focus, it not only allowed for a more deliberate pacing of Mulder and Scully's arcs, but also kept audiences guessing as to the outcome of the cases. If Coogler takes a similar approach to his X-Files reboot, it could prove just as unpredictable and thrilling as the original show and its revival.

The X-Files

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The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.

Cast

Gillian Flynn , David Duchovny , Robert Patrick , Annabeth Gish , Mitch Pileggi

Release Date

September 10, 1993

Seasons

11

Network

FOX

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Disney+

Franchise(s)

The X-Files

Writers

Chris Carter

Directors

Chris Carter

Showrunner

Chris Carter

Main Genre

Sci-Fi