‘X-Files’ Creator Reveals Why New Reboot Has His Blessing

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Fox/Getty X-Files creator Chris Carter told the Daily Beast why he is more than happy to release the reins of his iconic series.

The cult classic show is returning with a twist, as Oscar-winning director Ryan Coogler ( Sinners , Black Panther ) has written and directed a pilot episode for a diverse reimagining.

Carter said he is putting his own ideas for what’s next for X-Files aside until after he sees where Coogler’s show takes the universe.

And though he is credited as an executive producer, Carter is adamant that he will not read the script, and wants to take in the new series like a fan.

“I’m waiting for his series to come out,” before developing any other continuations on X-Files , he added.

“I don’t want to step in the way of that.” Though Coogler’s version will be led by Danielle Deadwyler and Himesh Patel , who will play a different pair of FBI agents investigating the supernatural, the series is expected to overlap with the original.

Carter revealed to Polygon this week that he believes both David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will appear in the new series.

“At least Gillian, I think, is going to appear in the Coogler version.

And I’m assuming David will too, so you will see Mulder and Scully there,” he said.

Carter insists he has no idea to what extent Coogler’s version will engage with his own X-Files .

Carter said it’s his “respect for Ryan Coogler” that led him to turn over the series’ legacy to him.

“The reason he’s doing this is because he said it was his mom’s favorite show,” he explained.

“I’m ready and excited to see how he’s going to do something that would make his mother proud.” In the meantime, the show creator made a readjustment to one piece of his X-Files story that left him uncomfortable for years—his director’s cut release of 2008’s The X-Files: I Want to Believe—Vrach Frankenshteyn , which is available to stream on Hulu as of Friday, Aug.

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