Ryan Coogler’s long-anticipated reboot of The X-Files is officially moving into production, with pilot filming set to begin in May 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. This development brings the Ryan Coogler X-Files Reboot closer to reality nearly a year after the project was first announced in March 2023.
Since announcing his plans, Coogler, known for his work on The Sinners and Black Panther, has steadily progressed despite juggling other projects. Recently, Hulu gave the green light for a pilot episode, casting Danielle Deadwyler as the female co-lead. According to reports from Nexus Point News, the pilot’s filming window will run through June, and production will return to Vancouver, the city where much of the original The X-Files series was shot during its early seasons before moving to Los Angeles.
Key Updates on Characters for the New X-Files Pilot
The reboot will feature Danielle Deadwyler in a starring role as an FBI agent, joining an as-yet-unnamed co-lead. The story centers on two highly skilled but contrasting agents who are partnered in a revitalized FBI division focused on investigating cases involving mysterious and unexplained phenomena. This dynamic mirrors the core premise of the original series but features new characters and perspectives.
Additional casting calls reveal that the pilot includes several new roles, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous representation. Among these characters are Salkow, a ten-year-old girl who is the daughter of a former biker; Willie, a biracial male in his 30s; Jenn and Cimisah, both Indigenous women in their 30s; and Julie, an Indigenous woman in her 60s. Notably, Cimisah is depicted as a mother who vanished two years prior to the timeline of the pilot and is reportedly a non-speaking character.
Possibility of Gillian Anderson Returning as Dana Scully
The original The X-Files was famously led by Gillian Anderson as Dana Scully and David Duchovny as Fox Mulder, though Duchovny had varying levels of involvement after Season 7. He returned for brief periods during the series revival in 2016 and onward. Anderson has cautiously hinted at the potential for reprising her iconic role in Coogler’s reboot.
“There may be a certain point where I end up, maybe in a few years or something, if Ryan Coogler does get X-Files off the ground, that I would dip into Scully again under his tutelage.” – Gillian Anderson, Actress
Creative Direction and Future Prospects of the Series
Coogler has expressed admiration for the original show’s format and storytelling style, committing to maintaining the case-of-the-week structure while exploring modern themes. He is heavily involved in the reboot as writer, director, and executive producer. Despite this commitment, the reboot has not yet secured a full series order or a release date, making its future uncertain but highly anticipated.
The decision to film in Vancouver also aligns with the original production’s roots, connecting the reboot closely with the atmosphere and aesthetic that helped define the early seasons. As production begins, the entertainment community watches closely to see how Coogler’s vision will reshape this beloved sci-fi mystery series for a new audience.
