The X-Files is ‘set for reboot with original stars’: Ahead of the iconic series’ return a look where the cast are now as well as show’s most memorable moments and VERY famous cameos

The X-Files star Gillian Anderson has revealed she is finally open to returning to the iconic sci-fi series now Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is reportedly onboard for a reboot. 

The actress, 55, who starred as FBI Agent Dana Scully alongside David Duchovny’s  Mulder, gushed over the filmmaker and said his involvement was a ‘perfect way’ to revive’ the show – after she previously quit the role. 

Telling The Mirror: ‘I think [Ryan is] is really cool and it would probably be done incredibly well. And maybe I’ll pop in for a little something’.

The hit series, which followed the two detectives were assigned to investigate secretive ‘X-Files,’ a group of unsolved cases with possibly extraterrestrial or explanations, ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002, before being revived for two more seasons from 2016 to 2018. 

Ahead of the reported reboot, here’s a look at what the cast have been up to alongside some of the show’s most memorable moments and famous guest stars….

Gillian Anderson

Back in January 2018, Gillian confirmed she had quit the role of Scully, telling the Hollywood Reporter: ‘It’s time for me to hang up Scully’s hat. It just is. I’m finished, and that’s the end of that.’

Since hanging up her FBI badge Gillian’s career has gone from strength to strength and has become chameleon like in numerous roles.

As well as playing Margaret Thatcher in series four of Netflix’s The Crown she most recently took on the role of Newsnight host Emily Maitlis.  

She been hailed as ‘astonishing’ in her upcoming role as Maitlis for the film depicting Prince Andrew’s car crash interview. 

One viewer branded Gillian the ‘female Michael Sheen’ after seeing her in action as Maitlis, claiming ‘she could literally transform into anyone’.

She has also appeared in TV’s Sex Education, American Gods and The Fall, as well as a role in upcoming film Tron: Ares alongside Jared Leto.

American born Gillian has made the UK her home and taken the West End by storm, being nominated for three Olivier Awards as well as a honorary OBE in 2016. 

She previously spoke about her return to work on The X-Files just 10-days after the birth of daughter Piper in 1994.

Speaking about the strenuous time with Grazia recently, Gillian said: ‘I didn’t know what the f*** I was doing! You’re upside down and you feel, sometimes, like you’re slightly going mad. And I had help.’

Gillian has Piper, now  29, with production designer Clyde Klotz, as well as two teenage sons – Oscar, 15, and Felix, 17 – with ex Mark Griffiths. 

She is in a relationship with The Crown creator Peter Morgan.  

David Duchovny

David went from The X-Files to lead the cast of Californiacation as alcoholic sex addict Hank Moody in 2007, which ran for seven seasons. 

He then starred as LAPD detective Sam Hodiak who was tailing a young Charles Manson in 2015’s Aqauris for two series, before appearing in What Happens Later last year alongside Meg Ryan, also co-wrote and directed the comedy. 

In 2008 the actor reportedly spent two months being treated for sex addiction which led to the breakdown of his marriage to Tea Leoni, with whom he shares two children.

According to the National Enquirer at the time David admitted that he was compulsively driven to be unfaithful and found it impossible to turn down the legions of women who offer themselves to him.

He has since turned his hand to music and has released  three studio albums since 2015, with the latest being Gestureland in 2021. 

Referring to The X-Files’ dramatic end of the 11 season in 2019, David teased that another series was the inevitable next step.

He said: ‘It seems like it was set up. I know nothing. I could lie to you and make it up, if you come to the concert tonight I’ll tell you the answer.’

Famous guest stars 

The long-running series featured a whole host of famous faces from future Academy Award winners to soon to be music superstars.

Ryan Reynolds died within minutes of his appearance on screen after his character was murdered by witches, while singer Michael Bublé also popped up as a silent extra. 

Future Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston starred in one epiosde of the seventh season a deranged man who takes Mulder hostage, until he is eventually being revealed as a sympathetic figure before meeting his untimely end. 

The episode was written by Vince Gilligan, the future creator of Breaking Bad, who would later go on to give Bryan his break out role of Walter White. 

Memorable moments 

One of the show’s most famous episodes saw the duo head to an artistic outpost following a mass murder-suicide, leading Mulder and Scully and the rest of their team to succumb to paranoia that one of them could be under the influence of an alien creature.

The dramatic episode also includes a charged scene with two detectives locking themselves in a cupboard and checking each other’s body to ensure neither is infected.

An episode entitled Home ran only during the show’s original fourth season and was never repeated, reportedly due to it’s disturbing nature. 

The story followed Mulder and Scully to a small town as they come face to face with the incestious and murderous Peacock family. 

Another memorable episode saw Mulder finally telling his colleague he loved her, making it the only time the words were spoken between the pair. 

After waking up in his hospital bed, after an adventure on a 1939 ocean liner, Mulder, while under the influence of painkillers confessed his feelings to his partner, who replied ‘Oh brother’ – despite likely feeling the same. 

During an appearance on  CBC’s On The Coast las month the show’s creator Chris Carter said that Creed director Ryan Coogler was hoping to ‘remount’ the science fiction–horror series, via Bloody Disgusting.

Though Carter only spoke briefly about the potential project, it may eventually have a new, more representative cast.

‘I just spoke to a young man, Ryan Coogler, who is going to remount The X-Files with a diverse cast,’ Carter said.

He added that Coogler has ‘got his work cut out for him, because we covered so much territory.’

The original series starred Duchovny as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, while Anderson played his partner Dana Scully, a Special Agent who was also trained as a medical doctor.

The two were assigned to investigate secretive ‘X-Files,’ a group of unsolved cases with possibly extraterrestrial or supernatural explanations.

Duchovny’s Mulder was the more inquisitive of the two agents who was willing to take stock in outlandish conspiracy theories, while Anderson played Scully as the rational realist who reigned in his most extreme instincts, even though they were often correct.

The hit series ran for nine seasons from 1993 to 2002, before being revived for two more seasons from 2016 to 2018.

Duchovny and Anderson also starred in two X-Files films, released in 1998 and 2008.

Coogler’s connection would add a prestige sheen to any new X-Files project.

He made his feature debut with Fruitvale Station, which he wrote and directed with Michael B. Jordan starring.

The film details the final 24 hours in the life of Oscar Grant (Jordan), a Black man who was shot to death by police at a train station in Oakland, California, in 2009.

The film was received rapturously by critics and made its $900,000 budget back many times over.

Fruitvale Station’s success allowed Coogler to direct and co-write the Rocky spin-off Creed, which was again a critical and commercial success.

He followed that film up with Black Panther and its sequel Wakanda Forever. In 2017, he was reported to be reteaming with Jordan for the film Wrong Answer, about the Atlanta cheating scandal, though it is unclear if that project will ever see the light of day.

Carter’s description of the potential project revealed few details other than its diverse casting, and it is possible that it may never come to fruition, like many film and television projects.

As noted by Bloody Disgusting, another X-Files spin-off, The X-Files: Albuquerque, has been in the works since 2020, with Carter producing.

The animated series would focus on a ‘B-team’ squad of new characters, but it is also unknown if the show is still moving forward.