The truth is out there, and it’s officially coming to Disney+ in the UK! Ryan Coogler’s reboot of ‘The X-Files‘ has been picked up for a full series by Hulu in the US, with Disney confirming that the new version of the sci-fi classic will also land on its UK streaming service.
The reimagining stars Danielle Deadwyler (Till, The Piano Lesson) and Himesh Patel (EastEnders, Station Eleven) as two highly decorated but very different FBI agents. When they are assigned to a long-shuttered division that investigates unexplained phenomena, the pair form an unlikely bond. In other words, somebody has finally remembered that the FBI has an entire department for things that go bump in the night, and decided it might be worth reopening.
The series order follows a pilot written and directed by Coogler, the filmmaker behind Sinners, Creed and Black Panther. The project has been in development for more than three years, since original creator Chris Carter first revealed in 2023 that Coogler was working on a new take on the franchise.
A new generation of agents
It’s an interesting pairing for the new series. Deadwyler has earned acclaim for performances in Till and The Piano Lesson, and has appeared in shows including ‘Watchmen’ and ‘Station Eleven’. Patel will be familiar to UK viewers as Tamwar Masood from ‘EastEnders’, although he’s since gone on to star in Yesterday, ‘The Franchise’ and ‘Station Eleven’, which earned him an Emmy nomination.
There’s no indication that the two actors are playing new versions of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Instead, this appears to be a fresh pair of investigators stepping into the world of unexplained cases. Whether the reboot will feature appearances from the original characters remains to be seen. And yes, we’d obviously be delighted if Mulder and Scully popped up to see what the new recruits are doing.
“I’ve loved ‘The X-Files’ for a long time, so getting the chance to write and direct the pilot has meant a great deal to me,” said Coogler. “What Chris Carter created is special, and we wanted to honor everything that made the original series connect with so many people while also finding our own way into that world. Danielle and Himesh, along with the rest of our cast, have brought such original perspectives and performances to these characters, and watching that come together has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. I couldn’t have asked for better collaborators than my crew, colleagues at Proximity Media and our partners at Onyx Collective and 20th Television. I’m grateful for the trust and support they’ve given us as we take on this new chapter.”
Some familiar names behind the scenes
Coogler will remain an executive producer, with Jennifer Yale (The Copenhagen Test) serving as showrunner and executive producer. Original ‘The X-Files’ creator Chris Carter is also an executive producer, alongside Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian for Proximity Media. Simone Harris, Deadwyler and Patel are co-executive producers. The series is produced by 20th Television in association with Proximity Media, from Onyx Collective.
There is also a notable name handling the pilot’s music. Ludwig Göransson, who has collaborated with Coogler on Black Panther and Sinners, composed its score. Given how instantly recognisable Mark Snow’s theme for the original show is, that’s a particularly interesting musical challenge to inherit.
“We’re looking forward to continuing this journey as executive producers and especially excited to work closely with Jennifer Yale, Simone Harris, and the entire cast and crew as we bring this new chapter of ‘The X-Files’ to life. It was also incredibly special to have our fellow Proximity co-founder Ludwig Göransson contribute the score for the pilot, making this a true collaboration across the Proximity family,” said Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Ryan Coogler, founders of Proximity Media.
The original ‘The X-Files’ debuted in 1993, starring David Duchovny (Californication) as FBI agent Fox Mulder and Gillian Anderson (Sex Education) as his sceptical partner Dana Scully. The show ran for nine seasons in its original run, spawned two feature films, and later returned for two revival seasons in 2016 and 2018. Between the monster-of-the-week investigations and the sprawling alien conspiracy, it became one of television’s defining sci-fi dramas.
The new series has some formidable boots to fill, but Coogler’s involvement and the pairing of Deadwyler and Patel give it a promising start. Now we just need to find out what’s lurking in those reopened case files.
‘The X-Files‘ will premiere on Hulu in the USA and Disney+ in the UK. No premiere date has been announced.
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