Ryan Coogler Confirms His ‘The X-Files’ Will Blend Conspiracies and Monsters

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Ryan Coogler, the director behind Black Panther and Judas and the Black Messiah, is developing a new version of The X-Files. He plans to honor what fans love about the original series by including both season-long, overarching mysteries and standalone “Monster-of-the-Week” episodes. Fans of The X-Files often debated which type of episode they preferred during the show’s original run, its revivals, and the movies, but Coogler understands what made the show successful and intends to deliver both styles in his new series.

While speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler explained:

A true X-Files experience needs both self-contained monster episodes and a larger, season-long mystery, and we’re aiming to deliver both. I’m currently working on that balance, and Black Panther [3] will be the next project after this one.

After achieving great success with his film Sinners, Ryan Coogler shared that he welcomes the challenge of meeting fans’ expectations for the upcoming X-Files project. He explained that he appreciates having a project with built-in anticipation and doesn’t want to disappoint the passionate fanbase and the intelligent people involved.

Will ‘The X-Files’ Bring Back Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny?


Fox

A key reason the sci-fi show was so popular was the strong connection between its original stars, Anderson and Duchovny. When Duchovny left in later seasons, fan interest dropped. Although both actors came back for two new seasons, the series finale included surprising twists that Anderson has publicly disliked, making it unlikely she’d return to the show. Coogler hinted at whether a return might be possible:

“I’m [a] big fan of her, I’m [a] big fan of David, and that’s all I can say.”

Ryan Coogler explained that he feels a strong responsibility to deliver a film that meets fans’ hopes, emphasizing his personal commitment to making the project exceptional.

I really love that show. It reminds me of watching things with my mom when I was growing up. I honestly think it’s one of the best American TV shows ever made. The creator, Chris Carter, wanted to recapture the feel of the old show Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and that’s what resonates with me. It’s amazing when an artist is inspired by something and creates something completely original. You see that dynamic a lot – a skeptic and a believer working together to solve a mystery – like in the first season of True Detective, for example.

I remember when the original series really put its stars on the map, but it also helped launch the career of Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad. Ryan Coogler actually told me that show was how he first got to know Vince, and he even got to talk to him and get advice on making TV. It was a huge moment for everyone involved, seeing that kind of talent come to the forefront.

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Everyone is looking forward to the new series, but there’s still no news about when filming will start.

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2025-12-29 22:20