Ryan Coogler Confirms Classic Storytelling Approach for His X-FILES Reboot
Ryan Coogler is teasing his upcoming reboot of The X-Files, and the update should make longtime fans of the franchise happy. While details are still being kept under wraps, Coogler has confirmed that the new series will honor the storytelling structure of the original series.
Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files followed FBI agents investigating unexplained phenomena, balancing standalone cases with a deeper mythology that slowly unraveled over time. That mix of creepy monster of the week one-off episodes and long-running conspiracy arcs is exactly what Coogler plans to bring back.
During a recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler explained that the reboot won’t abandon what made the series work in the first place.
“It wouldn’t be X-Files if we didn’t do both,” Coogler said about the show’s format. “We intend on having both monsters of the week and also the overarching conspiracy.”
The original series thrived on variety, bouncing between bizarre creature features and slow-burn paranoia, and it sounds like Coogler understands he needs to incorporate that balance.
Coming off the success of Sinners, Coogler has more than enough momentum to jump straight into another major film project. Instead, he’s choosing to revisit a TV series that clearly means something personal to him.
“That show is what I used to watch with my mom, bro. It’s one of the most beautiful American television shows ever made, I think,” Coogler explained. “And for me, that’s what it’s all about.
“It’s like when you, as an artist, try to capture something that you were influenced by, and you make something totally new. Anytime you watch a TV show or movie where there’s a skeptic paired with a believer, and they’re trying to solve a case, like True Detective Season 1, for instance, it comes up so many times.”
That skeptic-versus-believer dynamic is baked into the DNA of The X-Files, and hearing Coogler frame it that way makes the reboot feel less like a studio move and more like a passion project.
The plan is for Coogler to finish The X-Files before shifting his focus to Black Panther 3. There’s still no premiere date, but development is actively moving forward.
As far as casting goes, Danielle Deadwyler is rumored to be attached as the lead, though Coogler isn’t ready to confirm anything just yet. When asked directly about her involvement, he said, “I can neither confirm or deny.”
He also stayed quiet on whether original stars Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny might return as Dana Scully and Fox Mulder.
For now, fans will have to wait. Still, knowing that Coogler is leaning into the core DNA of The X-Files while aiming to make something new makes this reboot feel exciting in all the right ways.